As we enter Holy Week, we begin the trek of following Jesus through the last days of His life on this earth. The Passover was arguably the most significant festival and meal for the Jews. They remembered the awesome power of God that freed them from slavery in Egypt.
Though it was a festival of joy, Jesus starts it in a humble act. Though He knew He was going to experience agonizing pain, He also knew He was going to return to the Father. Perhaps that is why He chose to show His disciples one more act of being a humble servant.
Jesus grabbed a towel and a bowl of water. He then knelt down before each disciple and washed their feet. He demonstrated the type of servant He came to be and the type of servant He wants each of us to be. Being willing to do the lowliest of tasks for others is just what Jesus wants us to do. It is when we bow to the desires of Jesus that God will lift us up.
Unfortunately, we too often strive to climb the ladder. We long to be on top, in the spotlight. Yet, that is not what God is calling us to. Or, if he is, he will put us there because we have chosen to be humble servants of his. If we use Jesus as our model to emulate, rather than seeking the applause of the crowd, we will serve others and know that God is smiling on us.
I pray we all seek to emulate Jesus. I pray we choose to do what is pleasing to God. I pray each one of us will choose to serve others, knowing it pleases God, and wait for him to lift us up. Emulate Jesus. Please God. Serve others. Seek to be humble like Jesus. Trust God will lift you up.
John 13:3-4 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from supper, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.
Marty Pressey 