Humble Servanthood

Humble Servanthood

John 13.12-17

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

The sermon during the worship service at our church today mentioned the practice of footwashing. I began thinking, “What is the whole point of footwashing?” The preacher said, “It’s not about gathering in a circle and making sure everyone gets ‘done.’” I thought, “That’s right; it’s about teaching servanthood.” I then qualified that with humble servanthood.

Christ’s demonstration of washing his disciples feet was to teach them that ‘no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” Jesus was setting an example that, as Christians, we must serve others in a position of lowliness.

That is such a foreign concept in our society today, as I’m sure it was to the disciples. Every generation thinks, “What’s in it for me? How will this make me happy?” This line of thinking has destroyed the concept of community, it has eaten away at marriages, and it has brought pain to our nation. Unfortunately, our society is very individualistic. This sources from a lack of discipline in carrying out our freedoms effectively. We are so blessed with individual freedom as described by the Constitution, but we forget that we are also expected to help others. Each man has a right to his own property, but that does not mean he ought not share his property.

This is what humble servanthood is all about: considering others’ needs and acting on those needs accordingly. The humble part will come naturally. When you begin to serve others, you take on a state of humbleness. As the disciples washed Jesus’ feet, they probably soon realized the amount of humility and love which is shown by the act. Footwashing is a powerful reminder of the sort of servanthood we ought to demonstrate to everyone, including other Christians.

Are you acting in humble servanthood today? If not, pray that the Lord would grant you the heart to be a humble servant, and pray for the opportunities to put that humbleness into practice. May the Lord lead you into wonderful acts of service that ultimately show the world that He is in us, so that they may see the gospel. As the light of the world, let us be servants to reflect the light of Christ. Amen.

With love in Christ,



Austin Aldrich