What are we here for? Servanthood. God has been teaching me what it means to be a servant lately. I am still learning, but have been amazed at this passage in scripture:
John 13 1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a] 2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
I view it like this. Jesus knows exactly what kind of severe crucifixion that awaits him, just hours away. In an order to show His disciples one last lesson on what true servant hood and humbleness is, he washes their feet. It’s an important lesson for us to learn as well. Many times, people line up to do the tasks that are considered important, glamorous, or respected. But Jesus showed humility by doing the task that no one wanted to do. He washed the disciples’ feet — a dirty job usually performed by the lowest ranking person in the room. The king of our world who can snap His fingers and make them clean in an instant, or send any number of servants to do it for Him; actually takes on the lowliest of positions to wash the feet of those he came to save. But, not only the feet of those who loved him and followed him, also the feet of his betrayer….
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8″No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9″Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.
He washed the feet of Judas, the feet that lead him to his killer. He looked in his eyes, and cleaned the grime and dirt off of his enemies feet. Wow, truly amazing. I admit it is hard to serve the ones we love and love us; but to serve our enemies? The ones that blatantly crucify or cause pain to us and those we love? That is a difficult task, but not impposible. John continues on..
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13″You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things; you will be blessed if you do them.
I believe we are here on this earth to serve and love Jesus. He commands us to serve and love others. These versus hit the true heart of who we are to serve and how. To take on the lowliest of positions, humbling ourselves towards others and serving them because the one that sent us to serve is so much greater than ourselves. What a gift.
Either way, it's exciting.
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