AIM HIGH BY BENDING LOW
John 13:1-17
INTRODUCTION: John of all the gospels has the longest account of the Last Supper. We owe him for many of the details of what went on in that upper room. First of which is what we’ll be looking at today as we see a great act of humility performed by our Lord.
1) The disciples’ actions.
• Why didn’t one of the disciples wash feet? (1-5) A typical traveler wore sandals that were basically just soles that were held in place with strips of cloth or leather and tied around the foot, ankle or lower leg leaving much of the foot exposed. The roads were dusty and if it rained they were muddy; not to mention the occasional misstep into one of the “presents” the animals left behind. So you can see why washing feet would not be the most sought-after task. The job of foot washing was typically reserved for the lowest servant. Jesus and the disciples were in a rented room so there was no servant by the door ready to wash their feet. We know that there was a basin and the water to do the task because Jesus used them so the question is why didn’t any of the disciples wash feet? In Luke’s version of the Last Supper we gain some more clarity as to why none of the disciples were willing to step up to the plate. Luke 22:24, “Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” If I’m trying to make my case for being the greatest disciple then surely I’m not going to be thinking about washing your feet. I’m going to come up with 100 reasons why you should be washing my feet. The greatest deterrent to being a humble servant isn’t apathy-I don’t care to; or laziness-I don’t want to; it’s pride-I shouldn’t have to. Certain tasks are beneath me. I’ll do some things but I won’t do just anything. “Let somebody else do it”. Is that our attitude? When we see something that needs to be done is our attitude, “That’s not my job; let somebody else do it”? “There’s a clever young guy named Somebody Else, There’s nothing this guy can’t do. He is busy from morning till way late at night, Just substituting for you. You’re asked to do this or you’re asked to do that And what is your reply? Get Somebody Else to do that job; He’ll do it much better than I. So much to do in this weary old world So much and workers so few, And Somebody Else, all weary and worn, Is still substituting for you.” We might deal with apathy or laziness but our pride will be the biggest thing that will keep us from being willing to be Jesus’ humble servant.
• “No!” (6-11) Peter had an issue with Jesus washing his feet. I think Peter had some understanding that this wasn’t right. Perhaps Peter was speaking out of some conviction. Nonetheless, we see him refusing to allow Jesus to wash his feet. This isn’t the first time Peter resisted Jesus. In Matt. 16 Jesus was explaining to the disciples about his upcoming suffering, death and resurrection. Peter didn’t like what he was hearing so he said, “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” Jesus rebuked him and said that he didn’t have in mind the things of God but the things of men. It sounded like Peter didn’t want to see his Lord suffer and die but Jesus’ rebuke indicates that Peter was being selfish. He didn’t like that his image of Jesus as an earthly, warrior king was ruined. The news caused Peter to wonder, ‘what’s this going to mean for me?’ So we see that if Peter didn’t agree with Jesus he offered resistance. What about us? When Jesus asks us to do something we don’t like do we say, ‘no’? When Jesus asks something of us that seems ‘demeaning’ or ‘beneath us’ is our response, ‘never, Lord’? Ironically that statement would be an oxymoron. Could we ever rightfully call him Lord but refuse him? “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Jesus is saying unless you allow me to wash you you won’t be willing to partner with me in performing the work I want you to do. We can’t be humble servants of Jesus and tell him, ‘no’. Jesus wants to wash our feet. He wants to wash off the dirt of pride and selfishness so that we will be willing to wash one another’s feet. Quote, “It’s difficult to stand on a pedestal and wash the feet of those below.”
2) Jesus’ actions.
• Jesus was selfless. Picture the scene: the disciples are arguing about who’s the greatest and Jesus is watching them. Then he gets up and readies himself to perform the task of washing their feet. The disciples aren’t noticing; they’re too busy arguing. Then, Jesus stoops down and takes the first disciple’s foot. The room goes from noisy chaotic bickering to stunned silence. Here they were, all arguing about who was the greatest but they all had the same dirty feet. There was an obvious need and no one rose to meet that need except Jesus. And it was significant that Jesus rose during the meal. He waited until this time so that no one could say, “Oh, yeah, I was going to get to that.” By the time the meal was being served the time for washing feet had passed. Jesus was facing the final hours before his torture and subsequent crucifixion would begin. I believe if it were me I’d be pretty self absorbed and looking to be ministered to. But what do we find Jesus doing? Serving others. He wasn’t focused on his own problems; he wasn’t focused on having his needs met he was focused on meeting the needs of others. “I can’t help you I’ve got my own problems.” We’ve said it, Jesus could’ve said it but he didn’t. And Jesus could’ve demanded any of them to wash his feet but he didn’t. Jesus was selfless. In what ways can we be a selfless, humble servant?
• Jesus was a servant leader. (12-13) “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am.” Everyone who is a good leader is also a good servant. There are people in leadership positions who simply abuse their title and are focused on the power of the position. A good leader won’t ask someone to do what they are unwilling to do themselves. A good leader is willing to step beneath his position and perform a humble task. “During the American Revolution a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions, but making no attempt to help them. Asked why by the rider, he retorted with great dignity, "Sir, I am a corporal!" The stranger apologized, dismounted, and proceeded to help the exhausted soldiers. The job done, he turned to the corporal and said, "Mr. Corporal, next time you have a job like this and not enough men to do it, go to your commander-in-chief, and I will come and help you again." It was none other than George Washington.” The late Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s was known for his humble service within the multi-billion dollar empire he founded. When asked what made him so successful he replied, "my MBA." He didn’t mean a graduate degree in business education he meant "a mop-and-bucket attitude." George Washington and Dave Thomas understood the importance of aiming high by bending low. Philippians 2:3-7. Jesus’ equality with God was not something he was unwilling to give up. He was willing to lower himself to come to earth to be our savior and our example. Jesus…the creator of the universe was kneeling down and getting his nose near smelly feet and using his hands to wash away all the dirt and grime. Jesus is the highest leader who became the lowest servant.
• Jesus washed even Judas’ feet. Jesus kneels down and stares at the dingy, smelly feet of Judas. He peers up and their eyes meet. Jesus stares into the soul of the one who would leave after such a tender moment as this and betray him. Jesus knew this and washed his feet anyway. He washed the feet of his enemy. And I’m sure he did it lovingly not begrudgingly. We are called to serve even those who don’t love us. Jesus said in Matthew 5:46, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” To put that another way, “If you serve only those who serve you what credit is that to you? This is what non-Christians are willing to do. I need you to go beyond; I need you to go higher.” If we are going to aim high and be like Jesus we need to bend low.
3) Our actions.
• We need to be willing to bend low. (14-16) Matt. 20:20-28. Warren Wiersbe said, “Jesus spoke about taking up a cross, but all they were interested in was taking up a crown.” It’s not easy to make ourselves available for service. Jesus is going to test us by calling us at inconvenient times. There are definitely times when it’s okay and even the right thing to say ‘no’ to people’s requests. But to be willing to say ‘yes’ when we feel like saying ‘no’ is a true mark of selflessness. When we come into church are we looking to be served or are we looking for how we can serve someone else? As we Christians go through life are we looking for how we can minister to others or are we only focused on what others can do for us? Are we focused on looking for opportunities to serve? Are we willing to allow God to interrupt our lives? Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together wrote, "We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and cancelling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves, perhaps reading the Bible. It is part of the discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can perform a service and we do not assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God." We have been saved to serve.
• We will be blessed if we do. (17) The blessing isn’t in knowing as much as it is in doing. But one would think, ‘how much blessing could there be in doing menial service? We might be programmed to think the true blessing comes only when we do something significant that gets praised so we seek to do only high and lofty things for Jesus. But in that we fail to see the value in humble service. Being a garbage collector isn’t a glamorous or remarkable profession; it’s not highly acclaimed. It’s not going to be rewarded with plaques and certificates. However, as unimportant and insignificant as this profession may seem in the whole scheme of things, consider how important it becomes when this job doesn’t get done. NYC has had some legendary garbage strikes as well as other parts of the country and the world. It probably wouldn’t take too long of dealing with the smell, the rats, the cockroaches, and everything else that comes with the accumulation of garbage in the sidewalks and streets before the ‘lowly’ job of sanitation worker is duly recognized and greatly appreciated [bathroom]. Many of us are willing to do the acts of service that get recognized and applauded but how many of us are willing to do the ones that may get overlooked? Anything Jesus asks us to do in honorable, significant and important because we’re doing it for him. Now that we know that we need to be humble servants, we need to be willing to do whatever is asked of us by Jesus, who was willing himself, so that we will be blessed. We will be blessed in knowing we’ve been obedient. We’ll be blessed by those who appreciate our service. We’ll be blessed by the lost who see Jesus lived out in our service and are drawn in by our example. Matthew 5:14-16 states “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Every deed done for the glory of God is a good deed. Aim high by bending low.
• Bending low is rewarding. When Wycliffe Bible translator Doug Meland and his wife moved into a village of Brazil's Fulnio Indians, he was referred to simply as "the white man." The term was by no means complimentary since other white men had exploited them, burned their homes, and robbed them of their lands. But after the Melands learned the Fulnio language and began to help the people with medicine and in other ways, they began calling Doug "the respectable white man." When the Melands began adopting the customs of the people, the Fulnio gave them greater acceptance and spoke of Doug as "the white Indian." Then one day, as Doug was washing the dirty, blood-caked foot of an injured Fulnio boy, he overheard a bystander say to another, "Whoever heard of a white man washing an Indian's foot before? Certainly this man is from God!" From that day on, whenever Doug would go into an Indian home, it would be announced, "Here comes the man God sent us." 1st Cor. 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” All of our labor, however meek and lowly, profits much. We can accomplish a lot in life. There are many wonder fields and trades we can work in to make considerable contributions to society. But no matter what you choose as a career, your greatest impact will be what you do for Jesus. Every Christian should seek to be used in some capacity for ministry work. God has arranged all the parts in the body to do whatever their function is for the advancement of the Christian faith. Whatever we do for a living pays certain dividends. Only what we do for Jesus pays eternal dividends. You can’t put a price tag on something with eternal value. A wealthy American traveler was visiting a hospital in Southeast Asia. He entered just as a young missionary nurse was cleaning the sores of a sick, dirty, elderly man who had been lying in a gutter. The wealthy man said to the nurse, “I wouldn’t do that for a million dollars.” She turned and answered quietly but firmly, “Neither would I.” We aim high when we are willing to bend low.
