True Service-An Object Lesson From Jesus

Our world often equates leadership with power and status. Jesus upends this notion by offering a very different model.

On the night before His crucifixion, He performed a most unexpected act of humility: He washed His disciples’ feet. In our cultural context, this may not mean much. If anything, it might appear weird to wash another person’s feet. However, in Jesus’ time, it carried deep meaning. Christ’s act of humility should challenge us to consider what it truly means to serve others.

John 13:1–15 tells the story:
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

This account raises two important questions for us to consider:

1.    How far was Jesus willing to go in serving others?

2.    What does the foot-washing action teach us about the true nature of Christian service?

To appreciate the depth of Jesus’ humility, we must first consider the cultural setting of His actions.

In Jesus’ time, washing feet was primarily an act of hospitality. As people regularly travelled on dusty or muddy roads in open sandals, a host would often arrange for a visitor’s feet to be washed as a sign of respect. The task, however, was usually assigned to the lowest servant in the household. Peter’s protest—“You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!” (v. 8)—is therefore understandable. To him, Jesus, his Lord and Master, was lowering Himself beyond reason.

Jesus chose to serve, nevertheless. In doing so, He gave His disciples an unforgettable example to follow. This is how far Jesus was willing to go in serving others.

The second question takes us deeper: what do the words and actions of Jesus teach us about the true nature of Christian service? A phrase repeated throughout the passage helps us answer it: “Jesus knew…”

-         Verse 1: Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father.

-         Verse 3: Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power.

-         Verse 11: Jesus knew who was going to betray Him.

Consider the last point first. Jesus knew that He would soon be arrested and condemned on false accusations. He also knew that the man who would betray him was seated right there, at the dinner table with Him. Still, He washed the betrayer’s feet.

Jesus also knew His divine authority and origin. He was fully aware of the immense power and privilege at His disposal should He require it. Yet at this point, He chose instead to humble himself and carefully washed the twelve pairs of dusty feet—the work of a lowly servant rather than a master.

Cumulatively, His actions teach us an object lesson worth remembering: true humility is manifested in us when we willingly use our abilities for the benefit of others, regardless of our position or status.

What It May Look Like

In our everyday experience of Christian service, we may find that;

• It may be hard and unrewarding work.
• It may involve work that is not highly regarded.
• It may require perseverance.
• It may feel lonely.
• It may not be appreciated by those around us.
• It may mean caring for people who can never repay us.
• Like Jesus washing Judas’ feet, it may mean serving even those whom we have no reason to serve, let alone love.

A Contemporary Example

This lesson from Jesus would not be complete without a contemporary example. On many Sundays, I meet my former school captain at church. He is a graduate of both MIT and Harvard, teaches at Strathmore University, serves on several boards, and is a serial entrepreneur in digital innovation. Yet only a few of us—his former schoolmates—know the extent of his impressive résumé. At church, he faithfully serves as a “security dad”. Who is a security dad? Security dads are men—the more imposing, the better—who stand unobtrusively at strategic entry and exit points around the Sunday school area, making sure that every child entering or leaving is properly accompanied and accounted for. It is a volunteer role with virtually no recognition and little to no rewards. Yet, week after week, he serves faithfully. It is the kind of service that Jesus would surely applaud.

It is unlikely that we will ever be asked to wash someone’s feet. The question, however, is whether we are willing to follow Christ’s example by humbly serving others.

Whom is God asking you to serve today?