Our Daily Bread: Lead Like the ShepherdSýnishorn

Humble Example

Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. -John 13:14

On a media assignment, I attended a dinner reception for religious and civic leaders. Approaching a leader, I gave my name and offered a handshake. The man looked down at my outstretched hand, ignored it, and then said, “Yes?” It seems I had broken a protocol, being too low of rank to shake his hand.

There were protocols around rabbis in the first century, too. You stood in their presence. You gave them the best seats at functions. If you were their disciple, and no slave or child was around to do it, you might even do the menial task of washing their feet before a meal.

So, when Jesus took off His outer robe and started washing His disciples’ feet, they were taken aback (John 13:1-7). Jesus, the esteemed rabbi (v. 13), was doing the unthinkable: reversing roles to reveal His love (v. 1), pointing to His ultimate cleansing act (v. 7), and modeling humble service (vv. 14–17).

We don’t need to wash feet to follow Christ’s example. Theologian René Padilla was once staying with the globally esteemed Bible teacher John Stott, whom he found cleaning Padilla’s shoes one morning. “My dear René,” John said at René’s surprise, “You do not need me to wash your feet, but I can brush your shoes.”

Whether it’s with a bowl and towel, a shoe brush, or something else, we can never rank too high to follow Jesus’ humble example as we lead others.

Sheridan Voysey

How would you feel having Jesus wash your feet? How could you humbly serve someone today?

Jesus, I praise You for Your radically humble love!