Today’s encouragement is meant for all but is especially directed at those who feel a call to minister, evangelize, teach, pastor, or lead. Lambchow receives prayer requests and emails from folks desiring to start or grow a ministry every week. We welcome those emails. But often, the attitude contained in the email is wrong-footed. Something along the lines of “I want God to bless my ministry.” In our next passage from John, Jesus demonstrates how to really begin.
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus ate with His disciples. John prefaces this section with two facts. Judas was already on the road of betraying Jesus. And that “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God” Keep those in mind as we read what happened next.
From John 13, “So he(Jesus) 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. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”” (John 13:1–11, NLT)
This demonstration of Jesus is rich and meaningful. But what I want to zero in on is Jesus’ statement to Peter, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Or, as another translation puts it, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” (John 13:8, NASB95) Jesus’ statement was not so much about salvation but about ministry and serving and participating with Jesus in doing the stuff of the Kingdom. The phrase “have no part with me” is an idiom with the idea of sharing an experience. I think that an apt word for this may be a partnership.
Ministry, you see, is a partnership with God. And that’s is where some start off wrong-footed. No matter its form, ministry is joining or partnering with God on what He is already doing. Which is completely the opposite of desiring something and asking for God’s blessing.
Jesus demonstrated how to start. He knew His position and power and authority in the universe but took on the role of a servant and washed the disciple’s feet. Kings don’t do that. Powerful leaders don’t do that. Massively impactful influencers don’t do that. But Jesus, God the Son, did that – and as Christ’s followers, so should we.
So, there are two gigantic takeaways from all of this. First, no matter your position or maturity in God’s Kingdom, humbly serve one another. Second, let Jesus serve you by washing your feet. What does that mean? It means that no matter how clean and pure we think we are, there is always more. No one is immune from the dirt of the world. It is Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, that washes our feet if we allow Him to do so.
To the ministers, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and leaders – serve. That is actually with the word minister means. The calling or desire you feel is not to gain wealth, power, reputation, or a following. Your calling is to serve while always pointing folks to Jesus. Don’t measure your success on anything else but your humble service.
For our other readers that may not feel a call to ministry. I hate to burst your bubble, but you’re called too. However, it may not be in a defined role. We are all called to serve one another. We are all called to be ministers/ambassadors of reconciliation. We are called to wash one another’s feet. My personal attitude is this – When it comes to church and family and my job, I want to give to others far more than I get. The results I leave in God’s hand.
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