Following the Master's Steps: Humility and Service
John 13:8-9
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
I’m just blown away at the thought of the Master and Creator of the universe humbling Himself to such a low degree that He would do the basest job of a servant boy, and wash the feet of those who SHOULD be washing HIS! Yet, here we see the one who made man of the dust of the ground, now in human flesh, dwelling among sinners such as us, washing the same feet that He created with his own hands. What kind of plan is this for a King? What kind of plan is this for Divine Royalty? Yet, He does it! But why? What is His purpose? Dear friend, if you’ll read on to verse 15, you’ll find the answer. Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” In short, Jesus is teaching His disciples the necessity of servanthood leadership, but He’s doing so by example. In just a little while, when we read on, we’ll see just how far Jesus takes this servanthood leadership role. We will see just how serious He is about it! As a matter of fact, I’ll go ahead and tell you; the cross was His ultimate price for becoming a servant to us. That’s right! It cost Him His life! And He did so willingly! THAT’S how He redeems us; He takes OUR place, and serves HIMSELF as a ransom for our sins. What a Savior! And no wonder He told Peter that if He couldn’t wash his feet, that he had “no part” with him. That word “part” means “a part due or assigned to one.” In other words, Jesus was to serve, while Peter was to accept. There were no other options. And while people were trying to crown Him with the golden crown of a King, Jesus first insisted on the thorny crown of a servant. The gold would come, but not until after the thorns, as He must SERVE, and we must ACCEPT His service, lest we have no part with Him. Peter even attempted to keep the crucifixion from happening, and when he pulled out his sword to fight for Jesus’ life, Jesus rebuked him and told him to put up his sword! This way of the cross; this way of servanthood leadership, MUST be done, else nothing else matters. Now, it’s OUR turn. Will WE follow Jesus’ example, or are we too good to serve?
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
I’m just blown away at the thought of the Master and Creator of the universe humbling Himself to such a low degree that He would do the basest job of a servant boy, and wash the feet of those who SHOULD be washing HIS! Yet, here we see the one who made man of the dust of the ground, now in human flesh, dwelling among sinners such as us, washing the same feet that He created with his own hands. What kind of plan is this for a King? What kind of plan is this for Divine Royalty? Yet, He does it! But why? What is His purpose? Dear friend, if you’ll read on to verse 15, you’ll find the answer. Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” In short, Jesus is teaching His disciples the necessity of servanthood leadership, but He’s doing so by example. In just a little while, when we read on, we’ll see just how far Jesus takes this servanthood leadership role. We will see just how serious He is about it! As a matter of fact, I’ll go ahead and tell you; the cross was His ultimate price for becoming a servant to us. That’s right! It cost Him His life! And He did so willingly! THAT’S how He redeems us; He takes OUR place, and serves HIMSELF as a ransom for our sins. What a Savior! And no wonder He told Peter that if He couldn’t wash his feet, that he had “no part” with him. That word “part” means “a part due or assigned to one.” In other words, Jesus was to serve, while Peter was to accept. There were no other options. And while people were trying to crown Him with the golden crown of a King, Jesus first insisted on the thorny crown of a servant. The gold would come, but not until after the thorns, as He must SERVE, and we must ACCEPT His service, lest we have no part with Him. Peter even attempted to keep the crucifixion from happening, and when he pulled out his sword to fight for Jesus’ life, Jesus rebuked him and told him to put up his sword! This way of the cross; this way of servanthood leadership, MUST be done, else nothing else matters. Now, it’s OUR turn. Will WE follow Jesus’ example, or are we too good to serve?
~ Pastor Gary Caudill