Servant Leader

Have you ever really considered the fact that Jesus washed his disciples’ feet at the last Supper? Yes, I know we all know the story, but actually think about it. Imagine yourself there. What would it be like to have Jesus ask to wash your feet?

Have you ever washed someone’s feet yourself? I have. It’s not something easy to do because it is very humbling. Have you ever had your feet washed by someone else? That is even tougher for me. I can’t say exactly why, but having someone on the ground at my feet washing them is just tough for me to accept. I understand Peter’s reaction to Jesus when initially he didn’t want his feet washed by him.

So why did Jesus wash his disciples’ feet. He was the leader of these men. They had followed him to all sorts of places and in all sorts of situations. He obviously had their trust and their devotion. He didn’t wash their feet to gain that. What was he trying to communicate to them?

What does it actually mean to lead someone? Does it have to involve force and power? Can someone lead simply through service? Was Jesus a leader? How about Mother Theresa? How about you?

I don’t have the answers to how the idea of the Servant Leader works, but I do have an intuitive sense that leading someone by serving them, in essence loving them, is effective and makes an impact. The world is full of so many leaders, but are they all good? Is the world full of just as many servants?

How about you? Are you a leader? Are you a servant? Are you both? Are you willing to humble yourself to wash someone’s feet? Are you willing to humble yourself to have your feet washed?

I know that both serving and leading are difficult, but I believe that God calls us to both. I find myself wondering how God will continue to allow such qualities to play out in my life in the day to day. Obviously I have many questions about how I can both lead and serve others at the same time, but I hold the belief that it is possible and serves as a powerful way to impact others. I pray that you will also seek God on how he is using you as both a servant and a leader.