When we consider what a Jesus-centered community looks like, some of our clearest examples comes from Jesus' interaction with his own disciples. These were the men with whom Jesus spent his life and ministry. They knew Jesus, and each other, more deeply than anyone else. In their time together, they saw the impossible become commonplace. And with Jesus' arrest imminent, Jesus gathered for one last supper with his disciples.

It was at this meal that Jesus said to them "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15) In so many ways, the last supper illustrates the depth for which Christian community was designed. 

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. - John 13:3-15

Jesus, who was greater than all his disciples, humbled himself and became least among them. Verse is clear and direct instruction for how the disciples are to treat one another - to wash one another's feet. But was he just instructing them on collective hygiene? We get more context from Luke 22, describing a scene immediately after the first communion: 

24 A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. - Luke 22:24-27

If we are to partake in a Christ-centered community, we must make ourselves servants of one another. We are to view our brothers and sisters with the dignity that they have simply for being a child of God and to honor them in that dignity through acts of service. But, whether by pride, insecurity, or complacency, we often rob our community of that service and encouragement that our Lord calls us to provide.

For this practice, take time to pray and reflect on those in your life that you could serve. Don't worry, that (probably) doesn't mean literally washing their feet. Each one of us has the ability to speak life into the people around us. As you pray, pick at least one person that you think may need you and reach out to them. This is not signing up to become this person's savior, but simply to encourage and love them.