(Thought I would offer a chapter form a book that is under construction.)
John 13:1-3 “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;"
No doubt this was a very emotional time in the life of Jesus Christ. It was an incredibly perplexing time in the life of His disciples. The emotion would have been great on both sides of this story. We know that Jesus was facing a senseless betrayal and cruel death. The disciples were facing an uncertain future without the physical presence of Jesus Christ. This was a final opportunity for them to be together.
No doubt the Lord sincerely contemplated, and chose carefully, the events that would transpire in the Upper Room setting. He had taught them many times in days gone by. He had instructed them in the Sermon on the Mount, on seashores and beside raging campfires. He had allowed them to be eyewitnesses to the miraculous. Opportunity for ministry had been given to them. What could possibly be said in these last few earthly moments that could be any more impacting or significant than what they had already heard?
I have actually contemplated the same thing many times in my own ministry. And I find myself also left with the same question:
“What could be any more impacting or significant than what I have already heard?”
The only answer I could find was the same one that Jesus did. The passage from
John 13 continues on with verse 4-7:
"He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”
Was it all about making sure they had clean feet after a long day’s journey? Was it just to fulfill the custom of the day? I think not. It would be the last conversation He would have with all of His disciples at one time. The last opportunity to instruct them in His ways and His purpose. With that in mind, He takes a towel in His hands and pours water into a basin. He then kneels at the feet of each disciple and begins to wash their feet.
Amazing! The God who spoke the world into existence; who commanded the planets into their orbits; This One who spoke and the fountains of the deep were opened; who breathed and man began to live; Divinity robed in the flesh of fallible humanity to become our Redeemer; now humbly bows at the feet of 12 ordinary men. The greatest preacher, teacher or minister the world has ever known makes Himself a servant to those, who for all intents and purposes were just novices and beginners.
No doubt these disciples had great dreams of what ministry would be and what they would one day accomplish in the kingdom. In fact, the mother of two of them had asked Jesus for special positions for her sons. It is His response to her and to His followers that He may have been remembering as He began to dip His hands into the water and to lap it onto the dirty feet of those he was kneeling in front of.
Matthew recounts it well
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:”
It was all about servant hood. But then again, successful ministry has always been about learning to serve those you are called to lead.It has always been the principle of how to descend into greatness. What better lesson and example could Jesus give to his followers, when He was about to leave them, than to remind them that He had called them to be no more, and no less, than servants in the kingdom of God? He understood that He coud never save people that He could not serve. That principle is still true today.
The water would cleanse from the journey; the towel would dry their feet in order to allow them to walk forward into servant hood. Fellow minster, like Simon Peter, I am convinced you know what you believe. That you are firmly established and ready for the ministry that God has called you unto. I think God wants to be able to remind us so long as we live what that calling that is upon our life is all about. I believe He wants to remind each and every one of us that He called us to be a servant.
I believe there were times in their later ministry that the disciples remembered the towel. Days when they were weary and wondered if it was really worth it all, that they remembered the towel. On those days when it seemed everything they did was anointed and healings were happening, devils were being cast out, the church was growing, I think they were brought back to humility when they remembered the towel.
Ministers, in the years to come, when some of you are in the heat of the battle and you are wondering if the struggle is really worth it; I pray that you will think about the towel and remember you were called to be a servant and sometimes being a servant is exhausting, thankless work.
When it seems like no one is responding and results are non-existent, when it seems like you are overwhelmed and under prepared, would you simply pick up this towel and remind yourself you were called to serve; He’ll take care of the results. And in those seasons that no doubt all of you will have, when the anointing is rich and the results are plentiful; those days when it seems like everything in your ministry is perfect and you can do no wrong; those days when you are tempted to think you have arrived and you deserve all of the blessings that are coming your way, would you make me a promise to keep the memory of the towel nearby? Would you promise to pick it up and allow God to take you back to the Upper Room and remind you that you are only a servant?
It is my heartfelt prayer for each of you that God blesses everything that you do for Him. May you remember that you become great by being the servant of all.
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