Jesus’s Leadership Part 1 – Being A Servant

Tomorrow is Good Friday and I thought I would write three posts on how, the greatest leader ever in my opinion, Jesus Christ lead while on this Earth. Before being arrested by Roman Soldiers Jesus illustrated on more teaching about servanthood to his disciples.

John 13 3-17 The Message

3-6Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”

7Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.”

8Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!”

Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”

9″Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!”

10-12Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.

12-17Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

Jesus was not supposed to be on his knees cleaning his disciples’ feet, but through this he showed them that they that they are called to be a servant as he is. Jesus understood God had given him all this power, but also understood God trusted him with it.

One of the challenges of servant leadership is understanding what a servant is. A lot of times associate a servant as a few actions, but Jesus understood it wasn’t just what he did, but who he is. Servanthood is a lifestyle without pride and ego, and with confidence in one’s self, and authentic love for others.

Jesus showed his disciples servanthood by getting on his knees to wash his disciples’ feet. How can we serve others around us?

The next two posts will come on Saturday and Sunday.