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The Servant King

  • So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, 'Do you know what I have done to you? You call me, 'Teacher' and 'Lord.' You say so correctly, for so I am.If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.' John 13:12 WEB

    During the time that Jesus lived on earth, when you were invited to dine at someone's house, you bathed before going. But as you traveled to their house, your feet would become dirty again from the dusty roads.

    It was customary that a servant would wash your feet on arrival to freshen you up. They did not permit Jewish servants to perform this lowly service. It was reserved for gentile servants or slaves.

    When Jesus and the disciples came into the upper room, the servant was missing. All the disciples knew what needed to be done, but not one of them offered to do it because they had just been arguing over which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). They all felt that 'I am not about to wash his feet, he can wash mine.'

    Jesus knelt before each of them and washed their feet just as a gentile slave would have, when they should have scrambled to wash His. Other than Peter's outburst, it appears that the entire washing happened in embarrassed silence. Then He asked them 'Do you know what I have done to you?' and got more silence.

    Jesus told them 'You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so.' His humble act of serving them had not diminished His greatness. He was still Lord, just different from what even they expected.

    Jesus demonstrated that the greatest among them, needed to be ready to perform humble service for the least when necessary. 'The greatest among you will be your servant.'

    Humility does not diminish who you are, it perfects it. I can tell of so many times where God gave me a choice between humbly serving, or arrogantly ignoring. The times when I chose to humbly serve, I was soon promoted somehow in my life. The month before the Lord pushed me into becoming a pastor, I scrubbed all the toilets in our church because that day, the servant was missing.

    'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time' (1 Peter 5:5'6).

    When an opportunity appears in your life where there is something that needs to be done but the servant is missing, lay aside your garment of pride and become the servant. Do it with joy and energy as if you were working directly for the Lord, for the greatest among you will be your servant.

    Prayer: Father thank You for sending Jesus as an example for us and help me to grow more and more like Him. Help me recognize divine opportunities that arise in my life, and make the right choice. Let me be Your servant, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

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28 comments
  • 3
Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield Thiss hierarchy is apparent in the workplace, too.How often do we hear people say, "That's not my job" when something undesirable needs to get done?We should remember what Jesus did on that night He was betrayed!
December 30, 2015
  • 2
Rick Doran
Rick Doran The phrase "that's not my job" should be banished from  our vocabulary. I figured if Jesus can wash people's  feet, then there is no reason I can't do whatever needs  to be done. God is Good.
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Carol Policastro
Carol Policastro Amen!
December 30, 2015
  • 3
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann Amen. I was just wiping my grandsons feet last night and told him about Jesus washing others feet. God please bless my grandchildren and children. Amen
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Mike OBryan
Mike OBryan Good Morning-quit a interesting topic this Morning!!!!!! There we be certianly many differenty feelings on this one!! For Me I'm jes coming back much more fully under His Presence!! I must say-knowing His power,direction, peace, changes everything!! Its so exciting knowing I have such a wonderfull eveything available too Me!! This writing lets Me know-hum too follow His direction no matter how diffierent  or difficult it may be! The Blessing will come through the action, I'm sure!!
December 30, 2015
  • 1
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles Amen! Wise words! Thank you! Pastor's Prayer: Father thank You for sending Jesus as an example for us and help me to grow more and more like Him. Help me recognize divine opportunities that arise in my life, and make the right choice. Let me be Your servant, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
December 30, 2015
  • 3
Leslie McLea
Leslie McLea I think of my son, Asher, whom over the Christmas holday, scrubbed out both bathrooms at our handicapped neighbors house bedause she was unable to do it, we are not talking a little dirty, we are taking very dirty we are talking no one has cleaned them before like this. He hung shower curtains, that had been bought 8 years ago when she moved into her house, but she was unable to hang them. He build a closet orginizer for her that she had bought, he put it together, then when attempting to get it in her closet, discovered he had to take everything out in order to put this in. But before he could do that, this area needed to be vaccumed of which he did. Both he and I have gone from room to room, dusting and moving items so  that she can manavour more in her home. This has been a gift of love, a gift of time, a gift of love and friendship. We are all she has in her life. Before us she never had a text on her phone. Before us, she did not have any one to give her a hug, imagine not having a hug from anyone in 8 years. God has blessed Asher and I with Maryanns friendship. We have become like adopted family. Each time we go to visit her, Asher takes out her trash, he will get her mail for her that she was unable to get. Asher hung photos that needed to be hung 8 years ago over this Holiday season. These pictures were very heavy. There are no conditions attatched to what ever we do for our neighbor. We love her, she needs us to help her, and I know that Jesus is pleased with us because we give from our hearts. To be like Jesus is to give unselfishly, unconditionally, with all your heart, these actions represent the Lord and that is what our walk is all about. Oh To Be More Like Jesus. 
December 30, 2015
  • 2
Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt God will reward you and your son. if not here on this earth, He will say well done good and faithful servent's.
December 30, 2015
  • 2
Iris Parlin
Iris Parlin Wow!! How kind you are. I'm am so glad you are helping her out, and yes everyone needs a hug. Your reward will bring a miracle to you and yor new friend. God Bless you!! Keep up the good work of the Lord.
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Great story...thanks!  Know some places I had done same in years past.  Nice experience.
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus Amen! Leslie
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt I pray that I will humbly serve God, in His way and in His timing. LORD lead me where you want me togo, and that I will be willing to do what you want me to do.
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Carol Pady
Carol Pady Amen! 
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Sherry Robbins
Sherry Robbins God keep me humble at all times that Your Will is done in the life that You have given to me. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior I ask you O God Amen!!! 
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Matthew  Materazzi
Matthew Materazzi Amen!
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Iris Parlin
Iris Parlin Amen!!
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Laura B. Martinez
Laura B. Martinez Beautifully said. "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." Matthew 20:16
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Christina Ocasio
Christina Ocasio Less of me and more of you Lord. ..Amen
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson I humbly serve you Lord Always!!  Amen!!
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelli Amen!!  Made me think 40 years ago when my best friend and I decided to house clean for people to make some extra money.  It is a humbling experience.  One house I don't think I will ever forget was the one that had 3 girls and 3 boys.  We always took turns cleaning the boys bathroom because it was so gross.  It was a humbling experience indeed.
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Gail Sellu
Gail Sellu Amen Lord help me to be a blessing to others in your son Jesus' name I pray
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Thank you Pastor Todd & Blessings for 2016!!
December 30, 2015
  • 1
steven imafidon
steven imafidon Thank u pastor for the message may the lord bless u ad keep u Amen. 
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus Amen! 
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann Wow Amen what a BEAUTIFUL devotional I know that the word humble or humility is the most common words in the bible even more than the word love so I know from that its very important thanks for the reminder pastor Todd, God bless 
December 30, 2015
  • 1
Patricia Walker
Patricia Walker A perfect devotional!! We should all practice being humble, as too many seem to be all into themselves!! Thank you Pastor Todd. May your New Year be Blessed. Amen 
December 31, 2015
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you.  Lord, Help me to make the right choice.
December 31, 2015
  • 1
Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you, for the message! Happy new year to you, dear Pastor, Sylvia and all my friends at RHM!
December 31, 2015