By Braxton King
Down through the centuries, Jesus Christ has been called the greatest person who ever lived. I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment, because he has radically changed my life.
We can see this in his earthly ministry, standing at the tomb of Lazarus when Lazarus came out of the tomb, being on the bow of a ship as the raging storm lays down to a calm whimper at the voice of His command, seeing a multitude fed with a little boy’s lunch.
Yet, this One who is the greatest that ever lived described Himself as meek and lowly in heart. Jesus said “He did not come into the world to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.”
Every knee will bow before Him one day, declaring that He is Lord for the glory of the Father. Angels gaze at Him with hushed adoration as they behold, His glory and His majesty. In the book of Revelations, we read that the host of Heaven declare, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory.”
When He bowed before his twelve disciples to wash their dirty feet, the One who every knee shall bow before showed us the greatest example of servitude.
The disciples were in a debate over who would be the greatest among them. This spirit in the heart of the early church would have destroyed what Jesus wanted to do through them . So, He rose from supper and girded himself about with a towel and began to wash the feet of His disciples. In that moment, Jesus not only gave his disciples, but the church, a great example of servant leadership. As we read the history of those whose feet Jesus washed, we can see they got the message.
Their lives were lived as servants to the body of Christ, helping build and encourage those whom Christ had died for.
It’s only recorded that Jesus washed the feet of twelve people in his whole lifetime. Ten of those twelve suffered a violent martyrdom at the hands of persecutors. One died in exile on an island as a prisoner. The last one, Judas, died after he betrayed Jesus.
Jesus told His disciples, “Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”
Jesus told us to have a servant’s heart toward each other.
