THE IRONY OF SERVITUDE

          The call of Jesus has a tendency of turning conventional wisdom on its head.  Man’s ways are seldom God’s ways.  The way of the Lord is not always easily discernable in the heart of a man.  Isaiah the prophet declares:  for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isa.55:9).  Such is the case when we consider the subject of servanthood.  Man often views servitude as somewhat distasteful role.  After all, WHO REALLY WANTS TO WASH DIRTY FEET?  In that upper room on the eve of Jesus’ crucifixion, accommodations were scant and there was no attendant (servant) present to wash the feet of the Lord’s disciples prior to The Supper (Jn.15:4-5 & 12).  At best, the twelve may have been thoughtless regarding this procedure - - a necessary custom in a culture where dining was done reclining.  At worst, each one of the twelve apostles may have deemed such an assignment to be beneath them.  What happened next would surely never be forgotten.  Jesus became the God of the towel:  He girded Himself with a towel, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples feet.  His actions were both intentional and exceptional, providing a clearly punctuated path for all future disciples to follow.  I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you (Jn.13:15).  We must not minimize or downplay the significance of lesson on submission provided by our Lord.      

          In our own slowness of heart, we are very much like The Twelve who were sometimes quite thickheaded and oblivious to “the Jesus way”.  Not long before the Upper Room, the disciples had been arguing among themselves as to which of them might be the greatest (Lk.6:46).  On that occasion, Jesus employed a child to illustrate the importance of possessing the heart of a servant.  The point of His visual aid was essentially this - - he who is least among you, this is the one who is great (Lk.6:48b).  There we have it!  We are called to be bondservants, ones who willingly embrace a life of service to God and others.  We are charged to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked (1Jn.2:6).  (Jesus) emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant (Phip.2:7).  The apostle Paul frequently spoke of himself and others as bondservants of Christ Jesus (Rom.1:1; Philp.1:1 & Tit.1:1).   If we truly want to be great in the kingdom of heaven, WE MUST SERVE.  This lowly assignment is indeed a high calling!!  What was true in the first century remains just as true in the twenty-first - - THE WAY UP IS DOWN!  Let us resolve with an earnest desire to pray daily the song of a servant.

Make me a servant.  Lord, make me like You.  For You are a servant.  Make me one too!

Make me a servant.  Do what You must do; To make me a servant.  Make me like You!

                                                                  Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ