THE HEART OF A SERVANT
What is a servant? The dictionary defines a servant as “one that performs duties for others.” The world sees the servant as a slave or one that performs menial tasks for someone superior to him or her.
Scripture records being a servant in a different way. The disciples of Jesus were traveling to Capernaum with Him. They were talking among themselves about who would be the greatest. Jesus knew their hearts, and He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” (Mark 9:33 ESV). They wouldn’t answer Him because they had argued about this.
When they arrived at their destination, Jesus sat down with them and taught them a lesson about being a servant. He said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). The point was made. If you have to feel you are the greatest, the most important, a special person, then you won’t be first with the Father.
Paul, the apostle, encouraged the Philippians to be humble servants and always consider others more important than themselves. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is your in Christ Jesus.” He goes on to say that Jesus “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7-8).
There are other passages and other examples of godly men and women being servants, but I want us to focus on Jesus as a servant in a way other than His death. In this passage, we see the true meaning of being a servant.
The story is found in John 13. Jesus and the disciples were celebrating the Passover Feast, a feast that reminded the Jews of their delivery from Egyptian bondage.
John tells us the devil had entered the heart of Judas Iscariot (verse 2), and Jesus was aware of this. Jesus then proceeds to teach the disciples a lesson, one I’m sure they never forgot.
He “rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (verses 4-5).
This was an act normally performed by a servant. The people wore sandals, and their feet were always dusty and dirty. Since no one (not even one of the disciples) offered to wash their feet, Jesus did it.
“Jesus…rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:3-5).
“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you’” (verses 12-15).
There are several lessons we can learn from this story. The first is that Jesus had the heart of a servant. He took on Himself the task of washing the disciples’ feet, a humble act, and one that was reserved for a house servant. Then He told the disciples that they should do the same thing. Our first lesson is that we, too, should do as He and they did. We should understand that it our responsibility to do menial tasks.
The second thing we see in this story is that Jesus used the equipment at hand to serve. He used a container of water and a towel. Our second lesson is to use whatever tools are available to serve. It might be pen and paper. It might be a casserole. It might be sitting at the hospital with a sick friend or even a stranger. Look for equipment to serve.
The third thing I see is especially important. Jesus served even the one that was to betray Him. Remember, Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him; yet, He gave service to Him along with the rest. Our lesson is that we serve anyone who has a need, whether we like them or not, whether they have done us good or evil.
Do you have the heart of a servant? Do I? If not, we need to change our hearts. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34).
Sandra Oliver