The Heart of a Servant

SERIES: THE HEART OF JESUS (John 13:1-5,12-17, Mk 10:43-45)
The disciples had just been guilty of arguing about who would be first in the Kingdom (Luke 22:24), but they were not arguing about who would be first to take the position of a servant and wash the others’ feet. None of them was willing to volunteer, because that was the job of the lowliest servant, and it might lessen their respect in the eyes of the other disciples. And if they did it this time, they might get stuck with it. After all, they were not aspiring to a towel and basin, they had their eyes set on a crown and scepter.

The fact is that none of them picked up the towel and basin and then suddenly Jesus got up and did something that shocked all of them, He began to wash their feet. This one act was a powerful revelation of the heart of Jesus, a servants heart, a heart that we must all have, if we would be like Jesus. Jesus’ actions in washing the disciples’ feet is so shocking that Peter protests and tries to stop Jesus saying “No master, you will never wash my feet,” but Jesus was teaching them a crucial lesson that He never wanted them or us to forget.