Weekend in Vienna!

Servant Leaders 

 John 13:1-5 

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of the world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end…Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water in the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 

Jesus is a multi-dimensional person. This an understatement. We tend to gravitate in our thinking toward Him and His attributes in the manner we are most comfortable with. He’s my God. He’s my Savior. He’s my provider. He’s my King, my hero, the lover of my soul, etc. But, He has so many more attributes. He has the ability to step forth, exemplify and shine a particular attribute when it is needed the most. We tend to think of Him in ways that makes us feel good or comforted or according to what we desire the most at the time. 

The disciples wanted Him to be a certain way too. Just like the Jewish crowds, the disciples wanted a conquering King and Messiah and Savior from the Roman tyranny. When a leader leads with confidence, bravado and eloquence; PEOPLE FOLLOW. We crave a true leader who cares about us, yes, but mostly, one who leads with a supreme, unstoppable confidence. Leading from the front with indomitable courage, they create an irresistible current that pulls us in. We follow! 

The inauguration of Jimmy Carter as the 39th President of the United States was held on Thursday, January 20, 1977, on the East Portico of the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. Carter took the oath with a family Bible, opened to Micah 6:8. What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? 

Personally, I cannot think of a more appropriate Bible verse for a President, or any leader for that matter. As a symbol of “walking humbly”, Carter became the first President to walk from the Capital to the White House in the post-ceremony parade. Rather than sit in the elevated position over the back seat in the motor-cade, symbolizing American royalty, he walked.  

Robert Cialdina, in His book Influence, the Psychology of Persuasion, claims that this humble act of walking during the inauguration parade was the beginning of the end for Carter. He asserts this act of humility, Carter’s attempt to be “one of the people”, diminished his respect in the minds of the American people (along with other future acts of humility), and ultimately led to his one-term tenure as President. 

Whether that is true or not, I’m not sure. But it reveals an attitude, perhaps unconscious, we have toward our leaders, whether we want to admit or not. When they show certain acts of humility, we get uncomfortable and lose respect. 

Well, Jesus is about to make His disciples very uncomfortable. The disciples struggle with pride and Jesus is about to provide a life lesson that will challenge their traditional beliefs about leadership and servanthood. 

We are entering John 13-17, which is a very special section of God’s Word. John chapters 1-12, which we have already covered, reveals Jesus’ public ministry and His contentious relationship with the ruling of class of Israel. In the chapters we are entering today, 13-17, Jesus turns His full attention toward His twelve disciples. The events of these chapters take place the day Jesus is betrayed.  

The first teaching session comes with an object lesson. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. There is much Jesus wants to teach them about humility and service. We will dig deeper into this topic next time. 

Lord, we are blessed to be able to glimpse into the events of Your final days on earth. These are your final words to Your disciples so we consider them as critically important to all of us who want to be one of Your disciples. Give us wisdom and discernment to learn and apply Your precious words to our lives. Amen!