Jesus is our ultimate model of servanthood. In John 13 we find him in the upper room with His disciples. With all that was on His mind…all He knew He was about to face in the next few hours in the rapid steps to the cross…Jesus turned toward others…His disciples and taught them a lesson about being a servant. He washed His disciples’ feet.
We read in Luke’s account of the Last Supper and find more context. “A dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest” (Luke 22:24, NIV). At the table with Jesus was Judas…who would betray Him. Jesus would shortly reveal that all the disciples would desert Him. In the context of this struggle in the room on multiple levels…Jesus did the most unexpected of things.
In a world where people walked everywhere they went…down roads or through streets of dirt, filth, mud, and waste…feet covered in all sorts of things…washing the feet of guests was an important courtesy and honor…though lowly task. It was reserved for the household servants of the wealthy and for the lowest ranking member of any ordinary household. The disciples…in their dispute over which of them was the most important…wouldn’t have even considered doing this common courtesy for one another…BUT Jesus did it for them.
In Kenya I did a lot of walking with Kenyan brothers and sisters. They were used to walking most everywhere they went. Many of them walked mostly barefoot or in sandals. Their feet were hard, calloused, scarred, and uncared for. Because of the filth of the third world…when a person walks the streets or trails…they are walk through the refuse of life.
We have a sanitized view of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. We think of it in the way we would wash one another’s feet. The feet that Jesus washed that night were much different. They were like the African feet I described. Keep that image in mind when you think of the story – “Jesus washed their feet.”
As servant leaders in the church…we are called out to serve the Lord and serve the Lord’s people through the life and ministry of a local church family. Acts of service to the Lord are often a source of great blessing.
Those acts are also a generous gift of grace. As we have been treated so graciously by our God and forgiven so freely and accepted so generously…so we are to be agents of the grace of God. We are to love with an uncompromising, unrelenting, unbiased love…offered up to people who may be the most loving and lovable and to those who are not.
In Kenya I did a lot of walking with Kenyan brothers and sisters. They were used to walking most everywhere they went. Many of them walked mostly barefoot or in sandals. Their feet were hard, calloused, scarred, and uncared for. Because of the filth of the third world…when a person walks the streets or trails…they are walk through the refuse of life.
We have a sanitized view of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. We think of it in the way we would wash one another’s feet. The feet that Jesus washed that night were much different. They were like the African feet I described. Keep that image in mind when you think of the story – “Jesus washed their feet.”
As servant leaders in the church…we are called out to serve the Lord and serve the Lord’s people through the life and ministry of a local church family. Acts of service to the Lord are often a source of great blessing.
Those acts are also a generous gift of grace. As we have been treated so graciously by our God and forgiven so freely and accepted so generously…so we are to be agents of the grace of God. We are to love with an uncompromising, unrelenting, unbiased love…offered up to people who may be the most loving and lovable and to those who are not.
THINK ABOUT THE FEET THAT JESUS WASHED:
Dirty feet – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Tired feet – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Bruised feet – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
Feet that betray Him
Feet that deny Him
Feet that run in a moment of crisis
Feet that run to follow Him
Feet that bring good news
We are called on to care for the people around us. It is a blessed work you are called out to do but if you really do this…you’ll deal with dirty feet, tired feet, bruised feet, feet that deny…but also feet that follow and bring good news.
The symbol of your office as a servant of the Lord is a towel and basin.
Dirty feet – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Tired feet – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Bruised feet – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
Feet that betray Him
Feet that deny Him
Feet that run in a moment of crisis
Feet that run to follow Him
Feet that bring good news
We are called on to care for the people around us. It is a blessed work you are called out to do but if you really do this…you’ll deal with dirty feet, tired feet, bruised feet, feet that deny…but also feet that follow and bring good news.
The symbol of your office as a servant of the Lord is a towel and basin.
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