"[NOW] BEFORE the Passover Feast began, Jesus knew (was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the last and to the highest degree. So [it was] during supper, Satan having already put the thought of betraying Jesus in the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, [That] Jesus, knowing (fully aware) that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was [now] returning to God, got up from supper, took off His garments, and taking a [servant’s] towel, He fastened it around His waist. Then He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the [servant’s] towel with which He was girded." (John 13:1-5 AMP)
I recently read these verses a few evenings ago. I usually don't like to read my bible at night, at least not for my devotional time. I typically read through my devotions in the mornings. I feel like it sets me up for good days when I read in the morning. It gives me the strength I'll need to go through my day. There have been times when I've slept in and I've had to wait to read my bible at night. Usually I'll read before bed and read something that could've helped me during that day, and at that moment I regret not taking the time that morning to have read.
So I read through John 13, along with Jeremiah 7-9 that night.
I've been tossing the whole foot washing thing around in my head for the last few weeks. I've been thinking how revolutionary it was for Jesus to serve His disciples in that way. At that time, within the Jewish religion, that's not how things were done. The master or leader would've never done anything like this. Leadership, especially within the church at the time, was like the golden ticket in life. The leaders of the day would never consider serving the people below them and if they did serve, it would typically not be derived from a pure heart.
The concept of being foot washers within church leadership is one of the most profound lessons we can learn. As somewhat of a church leader myself, I find pressure applied to my heart when I read the verses above. Jesus, the great example of who we as Christians are to become, washed the feet of His disciples. If Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, what more should I do for the lives of those in my church and community?
When I read the first words above I see something of, what I consider, great significance. The words say that Jesus knew His time was coming to a close on this earth. That He would soon return to the Father. What was the next move of Jesus? He washed the disciples feet. Jesus didn't take them back and show them how to make mud to cure the blind, He didn't show them once more how to deliver the oppressed and possessed, nor did He reveal some new mystery of the angels or of heaven. Nope, He washed their feet. What does that tell us of the rank of important things in the life of Jesus?
I will assume that serving others is among the most important within the list of qualities of godly leadership. Is praying for the sick important? Yes. Is preaching? Yes. Is teaching? Yes. Is counseling, mentoring, discipling, loving, etc.? All answers are yes. And all of those things listed above fall under the rule of serving. Choosing to serve others encompasses everything good and pure. When you pray for the sick, love the unloved, share faith with the "lost", preach in church, teach in the classroom, usher freedom into the captives’ hearts, you are serving. The importance becomes to what degree can I serve Your body, oh Lord? How can I become servant to those brothers and sisters of mine? When we seek to serve others, to serve others in love, kindness, and pure motives, then we are seeking His kingdom and we are establishing room for Him to infiltrate our lives and our communities.
Above all else, I encourage you to seek the heart of the servant. When thinking of those whom you know, those whom you love, ask yourself and ask God "How can I serve these people?" I'm confident that asking that question will usher into your life a new understanding and sense of pure and unbiased love.
- Cheers.
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