April 17 - The Scandalous Servant

The Scandalous Servant

“So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:3-5

Our culture loves winners.  Muhammed Ali declared, “I am the Greatest!”  The University of Connecticut basketball guard taunting the Wildcats after the NCAA Finals with, “I told you so!”  Even our most noted actors and singers grasp their Oscars and Grammy awards as a sign of arrival.  Those are people that sell the posters and get the endorsements.  We have learned to esteem the one on top, but not the bottom.  We adore the person who stays ahead and doesn’t drift behind.  We applaud those who hold the victor’s crown and forget those who fell short in striving.  We have created a beast…and we then become the beast.  We believe the myth that our self-esteem must follow the course of the prideful and pompous rather the truth that God’s Kingdom is all about humility and help. It’s the doorway to entitlement, rights, and superiority.  So when we find Jesus on the Thursday night in the room with the disciples, He implements the Last Supper and does something that turned their traditions on its head. He washed their feet.

The disciples, imperfect as they were, found themselves fighting -- and their quarrel did not concern grace, charity and humility, but power, position, and prestige. Who was the greatest among them? Who was most loved by the Master? Who would have the privilege to sit on His left and on His right in the kingdom?

They had gathered to celebrate the Passover meal. Everything seemed normal until we get to John 13:4.   In that verse, Jesus begins His outrageous and shocking act. He strips himself down to a loin cloth--the garment of a common slave--and washes the feet of His proud disciples. John 13:4 denotes, “…so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet,”  Max Lucado describes it so clearly: "As they argue, the basin sits in the corner, untouched. The towel lies on the floor, unused. The servant's clothing hangs on the wall, unworn. Each disciple sees these things. Each disciple knows their purpose. But no one moves, except Jesus.” Move He did, toward them. Some have said that it is the most powerful picture in the Bible of Philippians 2 which says, “He made Himself of no reputation…and became a servant.”

In that one decisive act Jesus demonstrated that Christian greatness is not determined by position, prerogatives, education, titles or visibility. Christian greatness is determined by the willingness to meet the need of the moment with a deed of service. The need at that moment was to wash dirty feet. This is no episode of the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," but rather “Lifestyles of the Serving and Humble.”  

Dr. M. Scott Peck, psychiastrist and best-selling author of, The Road Less Traveled was not a theologian, but used the picture to describe the ultimate heart of Christ’s love and what made Him so loved and embraced by all He encountered. He writes, “What a strange way for the guest of honor to act during a final meal with His friends. What incomprehensible behavior from a ruler who would momentarily announce, ‘I confer on you a kingdom.’ In those days, foot washing was considered so degrading that a master could not require it of a Jewish slave. Peter blanched at the provocation . . . Until that moment the whole point of things had been for someone to get on top and once he had gotten on top to stay on top--or else attempt to get farther up. But here this man already on top--who was Rabbi, Teacher, Master--suddenly got down on the bottom and began to wash the feet of His followers. In that one act Jesus symbolically overturned the whole social order. Hardly comprehending what was happening, even His own disciples were almost horrified by His behavior.”

No doubt it must have appalled the disciples at the thought that He was setting an example for them. Of all the people who ever lived, Jesus walked an infrequent path and now He was asking His disciples to take this one as well—it was a road they wanted nothing to do with. It was the road of humble service.

One of the most popular tourist destinations in England is Blenheim Palace, where Sir Winston Churchill was born and where his ancestors lived for years. You enter this magnificent palace through doors so large that a special lock is required to close and secure them. The key alone is about 12 inches long. It does something for your self esteem just to walk through such a pretentious portal. But there are also normal-sized doors into Blenheim Palace. These were the doors the servants used and they lead to the servants' quarters.

Jesus was asking His disciples to do something unimaginable. He was asking them to use the servants' entrance. Not the way of power and might but the way of grace, giving, and godliness.

On this Thursday of Christ’s Passion week:

1)    Be filled by Him (as we recall He served the bread and cup prior to His death to speak of His strength and purity for you).

2)    Be cleansed by Him (as we place our dirtiness in his purity for renewal).

3)    Be used by Him (as He hands us the servants towel to reach our world).

The most miserable people you find in life always worry about titles, rank and prestige. Conversely, the happiest people spend the better part of their lives allowing God to use them.  It all started from a Scandalous Savior…who took the road less traveled so that we can take it too.

Terry Risser

Reflections
      1)  Why do we struggle so deeply to put others first?

2)   Since Christ did that for you, what change has it made?

Consider reading the Word today:

 

Copyright 2014- Terry Risser