Servanthood
NIV John 13:12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
When our son was young there was a popular children’s song, “If you want to be great in God’s kingdom, you must be a servant of all…” Jesus constantly did the unexpected and washing the disciples’ feet was no exception. While it was a common practice for a servant to wash the dirt off a guest’s feet, for Jesus to do so was not just unexpected, it was unthinkable.
At first Peter flatly denied Jesus the opportunity to wash his feet, until Jesus said do this, or you have no part in me. Peter then went to the extreme by saying that Jesus should wash all of him. How often are we like Peter, thinking that our kingdom work is so important, yet we miss the chance to serve God by serving others? Being an intentional disciple involves more than study, it even involves more than prayer, it includes more than tithing and more than serving on church committees. Intentional discipleship includes servanthood which requires a change of heart.
Just prior to Jesus performing this act of humility, James and John were arguing about who would be greatest in the kingdom. But servanthood means putting others first, sometimes even at own expense. Serving others is not something we can fake. It is something that springs from a heart that has been transformed by the saving grace of Jesus.
May we truly understand the meaning of discipleship as we navigate this life, learning that service to others is a way to glorify God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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