Special Saturday Edition
Ethan Barton, Pastoral Resident, Tallowood Baptist Church
With Jesus, everything is backwards. Those who are seeking life must lose it. The way to find glory is to give glory away. The mightiest king takes the role of the lowliest servant by washing his disciples’ feet as if they were honored guests. Everything is backwards with Jesus. Or, rather, the world is what’s backwards; Jesus’ way of life is the normal, correct way, and the world, which teaches us to seek our own gain, is backwards. Jesus invites us worldly people to make an about face and do things his way instead.
It's understandable why Peter was scandalized that Jesus washed his feet. That was a servant’s job. Perhaps it sounded even more scandalous for Jesus to tell them to do the same. But after all, Jesus was teaching them to be his ambassadors. The disciples, and by extension we the church, are called not only to live decent lives or come sing songs on Sundays, but to wash feet. We are called to follow his example and serve others with utter selflessness. We are called to continue Christ’s mission and his work with his loving, humble character—every day. No pressure!
What exactly does this look like practically? Scripture is rife with answers: carry one another’s burdens, share with the Lord’s people who are in need, practice hospitality, live in harmony with one another, value others above yourselves, work at whatever you do with all your heart as working for the Lord, the list goes on. We are Christ’s ambassadors; we are the representatives of his gospel, his love, his humility, and his work which demonstrates that humility. Let us not take that lightly. How many of us are still facing backwards and living for the world? We are called to kingdom work; we are called to humility. Let us do the work well.
