Jesus Christ – The Servant (Easter Series 2019, pt. 2)

Usually, whenever someone centers their writings on Passion Week, it typically follows the events of that week.  Each day, their writings will discuss what actually happened during that week leading up to the crucifixion.  I am taking this from a different approach.  I am using songs as a backdrop for my writings, and some of events that usually get written about may not have songs for them.  Also, I wanted to concentrate on writing about the crucifixion itself, and I have several different songs that I use for that.  So, some of these events may not fit on a classic timeline, but that’s okay.

Today, I want to look at Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.

Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. But He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles dominate them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.”  (Luke 22:24-26 HCSB).

This argument happened right in the middle of the Passover supper that Jesus wanted to share with His disciples one final time.  He even tells them, “I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (v. 16).  Instead of taking in the significance of the moment, they chose to argue about who should be considered the greatest.  Jesus explained to them how greatness looks in His eyes; it is the one who serves.

For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves.  (Luke 22:27 HCSB).

In the book of John, we find the same Passover meal, but John does not tell us about this argument.  Instead, He tells us:

So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.

When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 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 13:4-5, 12-15 HCSB).

It seems like explaining it to these 12 men (yes, Judas was still with them at the moment) wasn’t enough.  Jesus had to then show them how to put it into practice.  But, then, He offers some more explanation.  He tells them, (and by extension, us) that we need to “wash each other’s feet.”  He says that if He, our Lord and Teacher, is able to take on the role of a servant and wash 12 men’s dirty feet, then we should all be able to serve each other as well.  Basically, He gave us an example, therefore, we need to follow it.

This is not to say that we need to literally “wash each other’s feet.”  One Sunday a month would be Communion Sunday, the next would be wash-each-other’s-feet Sunday.  That is not the intent of Jesus’ comment.  We need to look at this as it relates to Luke 22:27 where Jesus says, “I am among you as the One who serves.”  Foot washing was just an example of being a servant, and our savior is telling us how He evaluates greatness – He is looking for service to others.

There are several things to keep in mind.  When playing the part of a servant:

• • You do so with the expectation that you will not be compensated in any way.  There is no pay for service.  Sometimes, there is no thanks for service
  • You should consider whether the service should be done anonymously
  • Service comes at various costs to the one performing the service
  • Being a servant is not always convenient

Regardless of these, or any other hurdles, Jesus would gladly embrace the opportunity to be a servant, and He tells us to follow His example.

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“The Basin and the Towel”
By Michael Card

And the call is to community

In an upstairs room, a parable
Is just about to come alive
And while they bicker about who’s best
With a painful glance, He’ll silently rise

Their Savior Servant must show them how
Through the will of the water
And the tenderness of the towel

And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free
In humility, to take the vow
That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel

In any ordinary place
On any ordinary day
The parable can live again
When one will kneel and one will yield

Our Savior Servant must show us how
Through the will of the water
And the tenderness of the towel

The space between ourselves sometimes
Is more than the distance between the stars
By the fragile bridge of the Servant’s bow
We take up the basin and the towel

And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free
In humility, to take the vow
That day after day we must take up the basin

And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free
In humility, to take the vow
That day after day we must take up the basin
That day after day we must take up the basin
That day after day we must take up the basin and the towel
Take up the basin and the towel, basin and towel