Jesus: The Servant King

There is so much more happening in the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet in John than just the fact that their feet were cleaned. Jesus clearly states why he is doing this:

John 13:14-17 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

This is a counter-cultural moment in a society favouring arrogance, entourages, parades, and spectacle; the greatest leader, the Son of God, the King of kings, doesn't come under that idol and brings a Kingdom habit that we are called to emulate.

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus humbly washes the feet of his disciples, an act typically performed by a servant. This act symbolises his selfless love and willingness to serve others, encouraging his followers to adopt a similar attitude of humility and service. Humility brings security and being secure in God brings humility.

This act points to the even greater scandal to come in the dark hours ahead, when Jesus will lay down his life, crucified on a Roman cross — the form of execution reserved for rebels and slaves. N T Wright

There are a few key points from this story that we want to focus on:

Secure: Jesus was able to be a servant because he is a King who is secure – John 13:3. The first five verses of John 13, shows us the security of identity that John was functioning from: he knew that his hour had come (John 13:1), he knew that the Father had put all things under his power (13:3) and that he had come from God and was returning to God (13:3). He knew who he was, and the act of washing smelly dirty feet did not change this. He was acting out of a secure identity. He was showing them that his Kingdom is an upside down one, where Kings leave heaven to be amongst us and are willing to even wash our feet. Jesus does not lose any of who he is by washing the disciples’ feet.

Close: Very intimate and personal thing to do – John 13:4,5 – he is a King who is close to us. He is wanting a relationship with his disciples that is intimate and personal. He is not afraid of the dirty parts of us, the less honourable parts of our humanity, he is all in with us.

Humble: He is a King who humbled himself AGAIN to show us how to live- John 13:13-16. He took the role of a servant, in so many ways, but here he does it in a physical tangible way. His whole life was a life of service, and this final time with his disciples is no different. He is showing what kind of King he truly is. Remember this is the last time he will be with his disciples – so he does something very powerful, very shocking, that they will remember always. Something that shows them not only who he is but who they also need to be.

A Forerunner: Jesus in this moment not only foreshadows the type of relationship we should have with one another but he is also foreshadowing the cross. The moment when he would do the ultimate act of humility and servanthood emulating the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, by laying down his life for us all.