Scripture:
John 13:3-7 ESV
[3] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going back to God, [4] rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments and, taking a towel, tied it around his waist. [5] Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. [6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” [7] Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
Observation:
Anyone who knows me…knows that there is a special place in my heart for this section of scripture. I believe that there is a lot we can learn from it, and honestly, I’m not sure I have ever written a SOAP on it, and if I have, I apologize. But this is where the Holy Spirit led me, and so it’s what I have to write on. The one thing I noticed right out of the gate is that Jesus knew that the Father had given all things into HIS hands. HE knew that HE had come from GOD and that HE would be returning to GOD. So when HE stood up and took HIS outer garment off, it wasn’t from a lower position. HE had been given authority, yet HE took a lower position. The position of a servant. I’m sure the men HE was leading were somewhat shocked when HE filled the basin full of water and began to wash their feet and wipe them with a towel. That HE had wrapped around HIS waist. In fact, Peter felt like he had to ask… wait, what’s going on here? Are YOU going to wash my feet? It was out of the ordinary. Teachers were not servants, and only servants washed the feet of others. You had to imagine Peter’s confusion. This is the man that HE had been learning from for the last 3 years. A man he had the utmost respect for, and here HE was with a towel around HIMSELF, taking the position of not just any servant but the lowest servant. The one who washed feet. It was the lowest position there was on the servant’s list, and Jesus the SON of the one true GOD and FATHER of all humbled HIMSELF and stepped right into it. HE didn’t even hesitate. Now, Peter’s reaction brought about the purpose of this position that the LORD had taken. When he resisted, allowing Jesus to wash his feet, he was told there was something he was being taught that he didn’t understand right now, and honestly, if you look at the entire ministry of Jesus Christ. You can see this principle throughout almost every circumstance. HE was always serving the needs of others, just not to the extent of washing their feet.
Application:
I want a servant’s heart. The further along in ministry you get, the easier it should be to maintain that type of position. Honestly, ministry is nothing but service. I wonder how things would change in the world if we sought to serve rather than be served. It’s just not where we are in society. Most of us want to be served, and when the service we are receiving is not to our liking, we are quick to say something about it. The servant having authority has never crossed our mind. But I want you to think about this for just a minute. Let’s look at the pastor of the church, for example. Most of us hold him in high esteem. Yet he is a servant. HE serves you by doing something that most of us don’t really spend enough time doing. He searches GOD’S word for what is truly being said and then serves you by explaining it in a way that you can understand it. Therefore, equipping you for the work of the ministry. Serving others opens the door to their heart and allows you to speak into their lives. It’s where ministry not only starts but ends as well. I hold a bible study for men on Friday night. I have been doing it for about 3 years now. Well, every once in a while, the Holy Spirit will lead me to do a foot washing. I remember the first time I was led to do this. It was at my house and there were only about 10 men there. I didn’t tell anyone what was going to happen that night. I just got the basin and began to speak about how Jesus had served HIS men. It was a humbling experience. Serving those men that night changed my life. I understood a lot better where Jesus was coming from. My point to all this is that I will continue to serve, and I honestly want to. Thinking of others as more important considering their needs above mine has become my way of life, and what I have found is that if I take that position where your needs are more important than mine…all my needs seem to be met somehow. Service is where my heart is.
Prayer:
Father, we see the way you teach us. The way you lead us. You are such a loving Father. Help us to serve you with all that is in us. Please help us see others as being more important. There are a lot of hurting people in this world, and if serving them, they will open the door to there hearts and allow us to speak into their lives, then by all means give us a servant’s heart. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen