SCRIPTURE: “You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. So, if I, 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 for you.” (John 13:12-15 (KJV)
QUOTE: “Servanthood does not nullify leadership, it defines it. Jesus did not cease to be the Lion of Judah when He became the lamblike servant of the church.” -John Piper
NOTE:
Spiritual leaders who follow Christ’s example should become servant-leaders. Though a day is coming when the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will rule and reign as King of kings, we are to imitate His life as humble servants. In order to teach this principle to the disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus became their servant and washed their feet. The most profitable way to exercise freedom is in being slaves of God and servants of one another in love. This sounds paradoxical, in view of the way most people define freedom. How can we be slaves and yet free? Paul addressed this question in his letter to the Romans, explaining that we can experience true freedom when we live godly lives:
“But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred to, and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18)
This is the miracle of redemption. Once we receive God’s gift of salvation by faith, we are only truly free when we live in God’s will.
ILLUSTRATION:
James and John, in cooperation with their mother, asked if they could sit on Jesus’ right and left hand in His kingdom—obviously referring to the throne of David (Mark 10:35-37). This seems incongruous and incredibly self-serving in view of all James and John had heard Jesus teach. However, it indicates they still believed Jesus was going to become king over the nation Israel. Most importantly, it demonstrates the depth of their carnality and selfish ambitions.
REFLECTION:
What was the ultimate message Jesus was demonstrating with the foot-washing principle?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING: Catch-Up Day, Psalm 128