Jesus knowing that...
the Father had given all things into His hands,
and that He was come from God,
and went to God;
He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments
...and began to wash the disciples’ feet.
John 13:3-5
Dedication Sunday took place last Sunday and each year, I find a quiet joy receiving the prayer of blessing as we corporately dedicate our service afresh to the Lord’s work and people. The reminder of His faithful sustaining in the year past and the necessity for dependence on God in the journey ahead in yet another year, is needful. It also brought to mind some personal reflections on service during a bible study we had at the YF ExCo Leaders’ Retreat not too long ago.We were looking at the all-too-familiar passage in John, chronicling the account of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples the night before His crucifixion. Without a doubt, humility was at the very core of Jesus’ words and actions. John, in recording this event, does not gloss over the details. He makes it a point to carefully narrate each step Jesus takes in the entire process - Him rising from the supper, laying aside His outer garment, taking a linen cloth, tying it around His waist to be used to dry their feet after the wash, pouring water into a basin, before finally proceeding to do the deed. One can almost imagine the scene playing out in slow motion, with each deliberate step a literal and figurative stripping away of Himself in a demonstration of humility - a visual demonstration of a greater one to follow, a humiliation unto death on a cross.
In service, in ministry, in working with others who may or may not think or act like us, we need humility. But how exactly does this humility come about? There is a humorous saying that goes we cannot know for sure if we are humble, as one who is truly humble will never admit that he is! However, I believe that the key to this question lies at what was going through the mind of Jesus at that point when He decided to wash His disciples’ feet in John 13:3. It was the knowledge of these 3 truths that enabled the Master to serve the disciples which we ought to emulate:
1. Know...God’s AUTHORITY (the Father had given all things into His hands)
In service, do you sometimes feel burnt out, overwhelmed, or inadequate?
Just as Jesus came into the world with the authority of the Father to serve mankind, we too go out with His authority (Matt 28:18-20) to render unto others what Christ had demonstrated to us. Our time, money and giftings are given into our hands from the Father that we may use them to serve God and others, and not serve ourselves. When we do that, our source of power and strength, is the source of power and strength, God Himself. When we feel like we are running on empty, check to see the real source of our fuel...
2. Know...our IDENTITY (He was come from God)
In service, do you sometimes feel like you need to always try harder, be impressive, or are unwilling to fail?
Our identity is in Christ and Christ alone. How smart we are, how rich we are, how talented we are, how attractive to others we are, how healthy we are, whatever, does not change our position as sons and daughters, and heirs of God (Romans 8:17). Our identity in Christ or lack thereof has repercussions in the way we behave toward God and others. Once we iron that out and come to the realisation that we do not need to work or be of a certain calibre to earn our position in Christ, we learn that what we do, does not determine who we are, and that there is nothing ‘beneath us’ to get our hands dirty with. We can thus find the freedom and security to do even the most menial of tasks...
3. Know...our final HOPE (He went [was going back] to God)
In service, do you sometimes feel unappreciated, short-changed, or discouraged?
In order to allow Himself to be made of no reputation, to take upon Himself the form of a servant, a man, before finally having to be humbled by dying on a cross, Jesus fixed His eyes on the final and eternal hope of not just returning back to God’s presence, but also of eventually being highly exalted (Philippians 2). We likewise, have that hope - that as we suffer for His sake, we will also be glorified together with Him (Romans 8:17). As we have come to realise in one way or another, the world more often than not does not operate on the law of fairness, made evident by the exploitation and material inequality around us. Someone works, but another claims the credit or enjoys the benefits. However, what keeps us going will be the rewards that await us beyond this world, and the new world where God’s chosen will not labour in vain - they, and not another, will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards (Isaiah 65:21-23). As we toil and labour for His kingdom, we persevere and eagerly anticipate our just rewards and new inhabitance...
Looking at the perfect example of Jesus, I believe these are the 3 keys of successful service as we look ahead to a brand new year. In rendering any kind of service - big or small, we need to put on the mind of the ultimate Servant; to put on the mind of Christ - by having the knowledge that we go in God’s authority, that our identity comes from Him, and that we are eventually returning back to Him... only then will be able to begin to wash the dusty feet of others.
