# The Unexpected Promotion: Embracing Jesus' Call to Servanthood

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you had to do something unpleasant, even disgusting, for someone else? I recently had such an experience at work, and it brought home a powerful lesson from Scripture in a way I never expected.

## A Messy Lesson in Servanthood

Last night at work, I encountered a situation that truly drove home the message of servanthood. We were dealing with a person who needed nursing home care, and the situation was, to put it mildly, messy. There was urine everywhere, and I found myself picking up saturated blankets and cleaning up a truly filthy situation.

As I was doing this unpleasant task, a passage of Scripture came to my mind - John 13:1-17, where Jesus washes His disciples' feet. It was as if God was saying, "You see what I'm talking about, Richard? It's this kind of thing that I'm trying to tell you in your message for the morning."

## Jesus' Example: The King Who Became a Servant

In John 13, we see an extraordinary scene. Jesus, knowing His time on earth was coming to an end, does something completely unexpected:

"Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him." (John 13:3-5)

This wasn't just a kind gesture - it was a radical act of servanthood. In that culture, washing feet was a task reserved for the lowest servants. Yet here was Jesus, the King of Kings, taking on this humble role.

## Understanding True Greatness

Jesus wasn't just teaching His disciples - He was demonstrating a profound truth about greatness in God's kingdom. He asks them, "Do you understand what I was doing? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet." (John 13:12-14)

This wasn't about creating a new religious ritual. It was about embodying a lifestyle of humble service. Jesus was showing us that true greatness comes through serving others, not being served.

## The Key to Servanthood: Knowing Who You Are

What enabled Jesus to perform this act of utter humility? As James Emery White puts it, "What enabled Jesus to perform this act of utter humility was a keen understanding of who he was, where he had come from, and where he was going."

Jesus was completely secure in His identity. He knew He was the Son of God, with all authority given to Him. From that place of security, He was able to take on the role of a servant without feeling diminished.

## Servanthood: A Promotion, Not a Demotion

Warren Wiersbe offers a powerful perspective on this: "If the master becomes a slave, where does that put the slave?" It puts the slave on the same level as the master! When we choose to serve like Jesus, we're not being demoted - we're being promoted to be like our Master.

As Wiersbe writes, "By becoming a servant, our Lord did not push us down, he lifted us up. He dignified service and sacrifice."

## The Promise of Blessing

Jesus offers a promise to those who follow His example: "Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them." (John 13:17)

We experience true happiness and fulfillment when we serve others. There's joy in knowing that we've been part of God's plan to meet someone's needs, that we've made a difference in someone's life.

## Putting It Into Practice

So how can we live out this call to servanthood in our daily lives? Here are some practical steps:

  1. Look for opportunities to serve: Be alert to needs around you, even if they're messy or inconvenient.
  2. Remember your identity: Like Jesus, serve from a place of security in who you are in Christ.
  3. Start small: You don't have to do grand gestures. Small acts of service can make a big difference.
  4. Serve with joy: Remember, this isn't a burden - it's an opportunity to be like Jesus.
  5. Reflect on the impact: Take time to consider how your acts of service affect others and bring glory to God.

Remember, we're blessed not because of what we know, but because of what we do with what we know. Let's not just admire Jesus' example - let's follow it, becoming servants who reflect His love to the world around us.