Loving others the Jesus way

Someone said, “The only kind of leadership Jesus ever taught was servant-leadership.” Nowhere in his life is that essential quality more clearly demonstrated than on that evening in the Upper Room when he rose from the table, took off his robe and began to wash his disciples’ feet. Apparently they had not taken care of that little task because that’s what servants did and no disciple wanted to identify himself in that way. I am sure they were astonished to see their master on his knees, of all things, washing their feet.  Peter simply had to say something so he objected and quickly found out that if he didn’t allow it he would no longer belong to his Lord.
       When Jesus finished the task, he put on his robe and asked if they understood what he had just done. Apparently there was no answer, so he used the occasion to teach them a very important lesson. “Although I am your Lord, I have just washed your feet to show you that you are to do the same for one another. One’s rank is beside the point. This is how you are to relate to one another, and if you do, God will bless you.”
       The disciples must have been dumbfounded to see their Lord actually carrying out the task of a lowly servant. And it was their feet that he was washing! The lesson is simple to understand: As fellow believers we are to relate to one another as servants. Our concern is to be the welfare of the other. Talk about counter-cultural! Who is it that by nature plays the part of the servant? “Don’t lower yourself that way,” says the old nature. “Do you want to be known as belonging to that class in society?” But Jesus showed them, and us today, that there are no class levels in the Christian church. Popes and preachers are to “wash the feet” of the flock for which they are responsible. That’s what Jesus did; wouldn’t you be proud to be on your knees with him carrying out such a glorious task?
       I think it is important to note that the Christian doesn’t have the privilege of not doing what Jesus did. He said to his disciples, “I have given you an example so that you WILL DO what I have done for you” (p. 223). It is not an option. How are your knees holding up? And then Jesus adds, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed by God, IF you do them.” That sounds like a condition to me. “Am I, as I live in concert with other believers, washing their feet?” Would sure like to blessed by God, and now I know how. Like always, it is my responsibility. Perhaps I should look around for some “dirty feet!”