Are You Jesus?

May 15, 2025 - Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

John 13:16–20

Picture this: you're at a friend’s house, and before you even sit down, they hand you a cold drink, pull out a chair, and genuinely make you feel welcome. Feels good, right? That’s hospitality. Now imagine they also take your dirty sneakers and clean them—without being asked. That’s a whole other level.

That’s what Jesus did at the Last Supper. He didn’t just pass the bread and share a meal—He washed His disciples’ feet. And back then, that job was considered so lowly, it was usually done by the household servant. But Jesus, the Son of God, got down on His knees and did it Himself.

Why? Because He wanted to teach us something big: real love serves. Real love welcomes. Real love doesn't ask, “What can I get?” but, “What can I give?”

Jesus’ message wasn’t just for that moment in the Upper Room—it’s for every one of us who call ourselves His followers. If we belong to Jesus, people should be able to tell not just by the cross around our neck, but by the towel in our hands.

In the Bible, there’s this amazing reminder in the book of Hebrews: “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers—for by doing so, some have welcomed angels without even knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). Think about that. That person sitting alone at school. That teammate who’s going through a rough time. That family member you usually avoid. Welcoming them, helping them, listening to them—that’s where we meet God.

And there’s more. Mary, the mother of Jesus, called herself the “servant of the Lord.” Peter, Paul, James—they all described themselves the same way. Not because they had to—but because they wanted to. They understood that the greatest thing they could do with their lives was to serve, to share Jesus, to be His messengers in a hurting world.

Jesus said, “Whoever receives the one I send receives me” (John 13:20). That means you might be the only Jesus someone meets today. Not through flashy words or big miracles, but through kindness, humility, and care. The world is watching—not to judge, but to see if Jesus is real. And they’ll know through how we live.

So here’s the challenge: when people look at your life—at your choices, your actions, the way you treat others—do they see something different? Do they see love in action? Do they wonder, “Wait… are you Jesus?”

Be that light. Be that welcome. Be that servant.

Because in doing so, you're walking in His footsteps.