Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
The episode of Jesus washing his disciples feet is recorded in chapter 13 of John’s Gospel account.
Again Jesus illustrates his distinctive teaching. He takes a towel and systematically washes the feet of his disciples.
He takes the role of a servant and tells his disciples to do the same. They should not behave as lords and masters after this materialistic world’s pattern, but after the spiritual pattern Jesus sets.
Jesus decisively and dramatically turns the thinking and attitude of this selfish world upside down and preaches the exact opposite.
Christians are to have the attitude of service to others, not the attitude of domination and control this world teaches.
The media and the workplace today are full of domination and manipulation. That is this world’s idea of success; it is the example constantly taught. Tread upon your fellow human beings and use them to your own ends. Exalt your own ego and ambition, regardless of the interests and needs of others.
Jesus says NO – do the opposite.
Help others; serve their needs; consider their interests: and in this way you will know true happiness.
In other words, abase the evil in your own human heart; don’t indulge it. Instead draw upon God’s grace and the Holy Spirit to do what is right for others.
That is the true way to happiness and success.
It is also the true way to a civilised society.
To follow the example God has given.
To give, to provide, to encourage; not take, exploit, dominate.
God himself sets the example. He comes as a man to show the way. God almighty abases himself to the level of his own fallen creatures – to those who deserve only his condemnation and expulsion from his presence forever.
The Holy and Righteous God stoops right down to our low level and shows the way up and out.
God shows that his mercy and grace transcend his anger with our sin to save us from our foolishness.
How can we not then receive his example and follow it !
Christianity 