It’s about time we took the towel

One of the things that struck me as I read the events that took place in the upper room where Jesus was having the Passover meal with His disciples, was the discussion that the disciples were having. Luke 22:24 recounts:

• A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 

Can you imagine that. Jesus was about to be tried and crucified in a few hours’ time and you can imagine the mental trauma he must be going through even as He sat with His disciples. Yet the disciples, totally oblivious to the agony of their master, were indulged in self-seeking, ego boosting conversations – “Who is the greatest”. Now it makes sense why no one wanted to take the towel to wash the other’s feet because, that was way below their dignity. Their conversations over the dining table betrayed their true intentions.

 

It was Jesus who got up and took the towel. John 13:3-5 says:

•  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

I am sure we sometimes find ourselves in the disciples shoes. We are good at discussions, better at giving instructions and best at finding the faults and weakness of others. Such propensities are often the rippling effect of  an inner swirling of pride and prejudice that is deep seated and yet unseen because of the plank in one’s eye. 

 

Jesus went on to teach the disciples an important lesson in ministry. He got up and took the towel. To Him, doing the work was more important than just sitting down and waiting for others. Remember He is God in human flesh and yet He did what He did. I must exercise caution here lest beholding the speck of sawdust in my brother's eye I pay no attention to the plank in my own. But the point is let’s stop complaining and arguing and do the work that is so ready for harvest. Be the first to initiate. That’s humility.

 

Jesus taught one of the most important lesson for Christian living that day.

 

·      John 13:12-16 - When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 

 

Serving God can only be done by the act of humility and by no other. No matter what the achievements can come as a result of the vocation, any stench of pride in any corridor of the assembly, will negate or make all attempts in service, frivolous. 

 

Of Jesus, Paul writes:

 

Philippines 2:6-11 - Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.⁸ And being found in appearance as a man  he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Jesus did it. Shouldn’t we?  It’s time we stopped talking and took the towel.