“Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself. He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.
“Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus replied, ‘You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet!’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’” —John 13:3–9
Well aware of His own sovereign authority, origin, and coming destiny, Jesus provides for His disciples (and for all of us as well) a wonderful example of servant leadership. And yet, He humbled himself to perform the most menial task. Believers comfortable in their own skin—knowing who they belong to, knowing their lives are filled with purpose and power and hope, knowing they are fully loved and accepted, have no trouble grasping the great truth of Scripture that whoever desires to be great must be a servant. Those most highly esteemed in God’s kingdom are those who serve, those who willingly humble themselves.
Jesus has shown us true servanthood and has paved the way for our obedience. He is our great teacher of lowliness of heart, stripping off one glorious robe of honor after another until we find Him naked on a cross pouring out His lifeblood for each one of us. How then do we dare to be proud? Paul tells us in Philippians:
“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbles himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even on a cross!” —Philippians 2:5–8
We care so much about what others think. Even churches and ministries often worry about how they are perceived. We often rate our success or failure on the approval and accolades of other people. I doubt seriously if Mother Teresa began her ministry caring for the poorest of poor on this earth in Calcutta with the Nobel Peace Prize in mind. She was simply humbly serving her Master by stopping to love and care for those who could not help themselves—and it was the Lord who exalted her.
Our confidence rests in the fact that Christ is genuinely concerned about us. He is aware of all we are going through and has promised the grace sufficient to meet each need. He loves us and desires for us to fulfill His purposes!
“For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” —Ephesians 2:10
To Peter’s credit, his opposition to Jesus’ act of servitude was motivated by humility. What he couldn’t accept was the reversal of the roles the Lord appeared to be initiating. Peter was the servant and Jesus was his Master. He had seen His Master’s hands heal the leper and restore sight to the blind. He had seen Jesus raise the dead and believed Him to be the Son of God … and now Jesus stoops to wash the feet of His disciples? Peter should be the one washing the Lord’s feet! It was a paradox beyond his comprehension. Yet Jesus’ purpose in this act of service was to teach a great spiritual lesson to His disciples and to all of us as well.
We all are in need of cleansing and renewal to remain in fellowship with God. We sin, we fall, we break fellowship, we humbly repent, and we are then restored. This is not regarding our salvation, rather our abiding fellowship with Him.
“In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:5–7
Become More
Nothing eternal is ever accomplished in the flesh. When our fellowship with God is broken through sin, we, unfortunately, begin to operate in ways that seem right in our own eyes. Jesus tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing.
Jesus silences Peter’s objections telling Peter that he has a lack of understanding. Peter’s vision was veiled, yet later he would comprehend. How often that happens to us as well. Our vision is blurred by our circumstances and we raise objections regarding God’s best for our lives. Often, like Peter, we oppose what we do not understand. It is only through our willing obedience that our eyes will be open to more of His ways. Never forget, Christ’s way is supremely the best way.
“O God, never suffer us to think that we can stand by ourselves, and not need Thee.” —John Donne
Further Reflection
“But Jesus called them and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom.’” —Matthew 20:25–28