John 13:12-15 - Simplest Self-sacrifice (Maundy Thursday Devotions)

John 13:12–15, 34 (NASB95) — 12 So when [Jesus] had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. ... 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Today is Maundy Thursday. 
I won't lie. The church I grew up in never talked about "Maundy Thursday," so I had to look it up in that famous Bible commentary, Wikipedia  ;-) 
"'Maundy' comes from the Latin word mandatum or commandment, reflecting Jesus' words, 'I give you a new commandment.'" 

Jesus had come to give His life away.
We are called by Him to take up our cross and follow Him. 
However, a life of self-sacrifice is lived out daily.  Some of us may be called to actually die in order to save someone else's life. 

But most of the time, self-sacrifice is found in ordinary--but humble--activities. 
"Washing feet" may actually be trimming someone's toenails, or dressing a wound, or organizing someone's med pack.
Or maybe just offering them a drink of water. (Though, the other day, one patient asked for a rootbeer; another wanted Coke!)

Father in heaven, give us the humility and grace to love others by serving them, just like Jesus did. In His name we pray, Amen.