TC Robinson <<>> Leading Upwords

A few days after defining leadership to his followers as "service to others," we next find Jesus giving a vivid illustration of what serving others looks like. 

John relates the story for us, beginning with:

³ Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. ⁴ So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, ⁵ and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. (John 13:3-5, NLT)

John continues:

¹² After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? ¹³ You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. ¹⁴ And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. ¹⁵ I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. (vv. 12-17, NLT, emphasis added)

The roads were rather dusty back then. Upon entering someone's home as guests, a servant would usually wash the guests' dusty, dirty feet.  It was a menial task, reserved only for servants.

But in this story, we find Jesus, the one they called "Teacher and Lord," washing the feet of his followers.  Earlier, Jesus had defined leadership as "service to others" (Mark 10:41-45).  Now he provides an unforgettable illustration of what it actually means "to serve others": it means taking off one's robe, wrapping a towel around the waist, pouring water in to a basin, and actually washing the dirty, dusty feet of others.

To all followers of his, Jesus says, "I have given you an example to follow.  Do as I have done to you."  When we follow the example of Jesus, we will receive the Father's blessing.

As Jesus was winding down his earthly ministry and dropping hints of it, here and there, his followers for three-and-half-years, began to pick up on it.

But instead of displaying a great understanding of what the master teacher was saying for three-and-half-years, they showed both immaturity and wordly thinking: they were fighting for positions in the kingdom, which they thought Jesus was about to restore to Israel.

Jesus had to issue a gentle rebuke:

41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.42 So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:41-45, New Living Translation, emphasis added)

Jesus defines leadership as service to others.  It's the ability to put others before yourself, in an effort to bring about the greatest good. For Jesus, this meant going to the Cross for sinners.

Jesus, the leader of leaders, teaches us that if we're not ready to humbly and lovingly serve others, then we're not ready to be leaders.

In a word, Leadership is Service.