John begins this farewell discourse at the Last Supper with Jesus washing his disciple's feet.
John 13:1–17
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 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? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
There is much that could be said about this text, but for our purposes in this series we should note again how Jesus did ministry. This was an every day occurrence, like us taking a shower. Foot washing was a common task done by servants in this culture. This is yet another great example of Jesus teaching as he just lived life with his disciples. He took a common moment and made it into an unforgettable teaching one.
When I was in elementary school I remember a foot washing ceremony one of my leaders did in Sunday school as a way of illustrating this principle of servant leadership. I don't remember who it was but I do remember it seemed strange, out of place and a little self-aggrandizing to be honest. Looking back there were a few reasons for this I think. First, nobody washes feet in public anymore. So this event was completely outside the context of normal life. Second, this moment was so meaningful to Jesus and his disciples because of the amount of time they had spent together forging a relationship in which Jesus was quite obviously the leader. Despite my leader's good intentions our "teacher-student" relationship was nowhere near that level.
Instead of this fabricated moment, the moments of servant leadership that stood out to me where to be found in the everyday life events I witnessed in my church and school growing up. Moments like, the principal of my school sweeping the gym floor late at night after a basketball game, my dad picking up and dropping someone who didn't have a car so he could come to church, my mom talking on the phone yet again to the same person who made yet another stupid decision and showed no signs of actually heeding the advice she was given. These moments showed me, not just told me, what servant leadership looks like.
Like Jesus, it is only in time spent together and moments like this that demonstrate powerful spiritual truths that will never be forgotten.
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Reflection
Reflect on the servant leadership of Jesus and the words of Packer. How are you giving your time, trouble, care and concern for others?