January 07, 2023
Daily Devotion:
"Servanthood"
John 13:14-15
If l, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other's feet. I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
One of the issues that most mattered to Jesus' disciples was who of them was the most favored and important to Him. In fact, two of the disciples, James and John, asked their mother to help them assume the seats of honor in Jesus' kingdom. Her Request to Jesus was: “Promise that one of my sons will sit at your right side and the other will sit at your left side in your kingdom” (Matthew 20:21).
Jesus' response was that she didn't know what she was asking. She and her sons were interested in the trappings and benefits of power, but not the sacrifice.
Otherwise, these sons of Zebedee could have been on Jesus' left and right when he prayed in the Garden (Matthew 26:40-46). Instead, they slept. They could have been on His left and right when He was arrested (Mark 14:50). Instead, they fled. They could have been on His left and right when He hung on a cross (Matthew 15:27, Luke 23:49, John 19:16-19, 26). Instead, they stayed in the crowd.
When Jesus taught His disciples the true meaning of greatness, He taught with a towel and basin. He washed their feet-the duty of a house servant. Peter, still unable to comprehend the object lesson, initially refused to let Jesus lower himself in such a way. We live in a competitive and self-aggrandizing world. Examples of humility, kindness, helpfulness, and caring for others first-servant hood-are hard to find. Great is the reward, the sense of purpose, the self satisfaction of one who follows the Master's example.
