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MEMORY VERSE: “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

Suggested Reading: The Desire of Ages, pp. 642–651.

“The whole life of Christ had been a life of unselfish service. ‘Not to be ministered unto, but to minister,’ (Matthew 20:28), had been the lesson of His every act.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 642.

1. A GENTILE CONCEPT Sun, Jul 20

a. What destructive mentality originating with Lucifer affected Judaism (including Christ’s disciples) and can also affect us today?

Luke 22:24, 25: 24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

“Lucifer desired God’s power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same. Thus alienation, discord, and strife will be inevitable. Dominion becomes the prize of the strongest. The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 435, 436.

“In the kingdoms of the world, position meant self-aggrandizement. The people were supposed to exist for the benefit of the ruling classes. Influence, wealth, education, were so many means of gaining control of the masses for the use of the leaders. The higher classes were to think, decide, enjoy, and rule; the lower were to obey and serve. Religion, like all things else, was a matter of authority. The people were expected to believe and practice as their superiors directed. The right of man as man, to think and act for himself, was wholly unrecognized.”—Ibid., p. 550.

“By spiritual pride, a desire to dictate, an ambitious longing for honor or position . . . the church may be disturbed and her peace sacrificed.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 241.

2. A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE NEEDED Mon, Jul 21

a. In stark contrast to ambitious longing for a higher position, what principle did Jesus establish—and what example did He give in this regard?

Luke 22:26, 27: 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth?is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

John 13:13–16: 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

“Christ was establishing a kingdom on different principles. He called men, not to authority, but to service, the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak. Power, position, talent, education, placed their possessor under the greater obligation to serve his fellows. . . .

“In Christ’s kingdom there is no lordly oppression, no compulsion of manner. The angels of heaven do not come to the earth to rule, and to exact homage, but as messengers of mercy, to cooperate with men in uplifting humanity.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 550, 551.

b. Describe how Christ treated faulty humans—an attitude to replace our own natural tendency.

Philippians 2:3, 4: 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

“It is a natural, but not a pleasing, trait in our characters to be keen in our perceptions, and tenacious in our remembrance, of the faults and failings of others.

“Brother B does not try to be in union with his brethren; his self-confidence has led him to feel no special necessity for union. He feels that their minds have been cast in a mold inferior to his own and that to receive their opinions and counsel as worthy of attention would be a great condescension. . . . He feels that he is too wise and experienced to need the precautions which are indispensable to many. He has so high an opinion of his own abilities and such a reliance upon his own attainments that he believes himself prepared for any emergency.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, pp. 444, 445.

“The influence of worldly selfishness, which is carried about by some like a cloud, chilling the very atmosphere that others breathe, causes sickness of soul and frequently chills to death.”—Ibid., p. 528.

“If there is that love among brethren which will lead them to esteem others better than themselves, there will be a giving up of their own ways and wishes to others.”—Gospel Workers, p. 447.

3. A TENACIOUS TENDENCY Tue, Jul 22

a. What concern did the apostles still have shortly before the Passover?

Matthew 20:20–24: 20 ¶ Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

Luke 22:24: 24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

“There was ‘a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.’ This contention, carried on in the presence of Christ, grieved and wounded Him. The disciples clung to their favorite idea that Christ would assert His power, and take His position on the throne of David. And in heart each still longed for the highest place in the kingdom. They had placed their own estimate upon themselves and upon one another, and, instead of regarding their brethren as more worthy, they had placed themselves first. The request of James and John to sit on the right and left of Christ’s throne had excited the indignation of the others. That the two brothers should presume to ask for the highest position so stirred the ten that alienation threatened. They felt that they were misjudged, that their fidelity and talents were not appreciated. Judas was the most severe upon James and John.

“When the disciples entered the supper room, their hearts were full of resentful feelings. Judas pressed next to Christ on the left side; John was on the right. If there was a highest place, Judas was determined to have it.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 643, 644.

b. What earlier illustration had the disciples apparently forgotten, thus triggering another cause for dissension among them?

Matthew 18:1–4: 1 ¶ At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“Another cause of dissension had arisen. At a feast it was customary for a servant to wash the feet of the guests, and on this occasion preparation had been made for the service. The pitcher, the basin, and the towel were there, in readiness for the feet washing; but no servant was present, and it was the disciples’ part to perform it. But each of the disciples, yielding to wounded pride, determined not to act the part of a servant. All manifested a stoical unconcern, seeming unconscious that there was anything for them to do. By their silence they refused to humble themselves.”—Ibid., p. 644.

“Let us think how our words sound in the ears of God, how our selfish thoughts look in His sight, when we judge and condemn others, who may be better in heart and purpose than ourselves.”—The Signs of the Times, February 19, 1885.

4. A PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATION Wed, Jul 23

a. After patiently waiting for the disciples to take the initiative, what did Jesus finally do?

John 13:3–5: 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

“[John 13:5 quoted.] This action opened the eyes of the disciples. Bitter shame and humiliation filled their hearts. They understood the unspoken rebuke, and saw themselves in altogether a new light.

“So Christ expressed His love for His disciples. Their selfish spirit filled Him with sorrow, but He entered into no controversy with them regarding their difficulty. Instead He gave them an example they would never forget.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 644, 645.

b. How did Peter react when it was his turn?

John 13:6–8 (first part): 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and* Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.

“Peter could not bear to see his Lord, whom he believed to be the Son of God, acting the part of a servant. His whole soul rose up against this humiliation. He did not realize that for this Christ came into the world.”—Ibid., pp. 645, 646.

c. How far had Judas yielded to Satan’s temptations—and how did Christ show He was aware of this?

John 13:2, 10, 11: 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

“Before the Passover Judas had met a second time with the priests and scribes, and had closed the contract to deliver Jesus into their hands. Yet he afterward mingled with the disciples as though innocent of any wrong, and interested in the work of preparing for the feast. The disciples knew nothing of the purpose of Judas. Jesus alone could read his secret. Yet He did not expose him. Jesus hungered for his soul. He felt for him such a burden as for Jerusalem when He wept over the doomed city. His heart was crying, How can I give thee up? The constraining power of that love was felt by Judas. When the Saviour’s hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the towel, the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with the impulse then and there to confess his sin. But he would not humble himself.”—Ibid., p. 645.

5. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FEET WASHING Thu, Jul 24

a. With this act, what does Jesus really desire to do?

John 13:8 (last part): Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

“By the act of our Lord this humiliating ceremony was made a consecrated ordinance. It was to be observed by the disciples, that they might ever keep in mind His lessons of humility and service.

“This ordinance is Christ’s appointed preparation for the sacramental service. While pride, variance, and strife for supremacy are cherished, the heart cannot enter into fellowship with Christ. We are not prepared to receive the communion of His body and His blood. Therefore it was that Jesus appointed the memorial of His humiliation to be first observed.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 650.

b. What significant words did Jesus pronounce after the feet-washing ceremony—and what should this bring to our minds during our observance of this?

John 13:12–17: 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

“We are fallible, and have erred many times. Let us return to the Lord with repentance and confession. As we assemble to participate in the ordinances of the Lord’s house, let us make every wrong right, so far as lies in our power. When bowing before a brother, washing his feet, ask yourself, ‘Have I aught in my heart that separates me from this brother? Have I said or done anything that estranges us?’ If so, take it away by heartily confessing your sin. Thus heart will be cemented to heart, and the blessing of God will be manifest.”—Reflecting Christ, p. 283.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS Fri, Jul 25

1. Explain the contrast between the heavenly attitude and that of earth.

2. If I refuse to wash my brother’s feet, what am I actually refusing?

3. How is the inner experience of Judas a warning to me?

4. Explain how Christ transformed the attitude of the disciples.

5. What is the purpose and significance of the feet-washing ceremony?