The Servant

The disciples are sitting around the table getting ready to share the Passover meal. Their host, Jesus, begins to do something that had to make them pause in silence. As was the custom the host would provide a servant to wash the feet of their guests as they reclined at the table.

I often wonder when Jesus began to wash the feet of one of his disciples if they even recognized it was him. I wonder if they just kept talking knowing what was happening was common enough that many guest never looked at the person who was doing this lowly task of washing feet. I wonder if they just took for granted what was happening until they noticed it was Jesus.

Peter speaks up because he is embarrassed that Jesus is taking on this lowly role. But Jesus tells Peter, if you don't let me serve you--you will have no part of me.

Stunned they watched as Jesus finished serving each of them in an act the host never does. He then begins to teach them about living as one of his disciples.

"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who has sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:13-17

Not only has their host washed their feet, their Lord and Rabbi has taken on the role of this lowly servant. He said he did it to give them an example as to how they should live as one of His followers. Jesus says His followers will serve one another in some of the most humbling ways.

He also says that since He has done this as "Lord" and "Teacher"--we are not exempt as His followers. If He is willing to humble Himself and serve, we need to have the same attitude because we are not greater than He is--He is our master, we are His servant--We are His messengers and He is the one who sends us out to serve the world.

Philippians 2:5-7 says this:

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Who are you going to serve today?