“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6,7).
One of the striking images of Maundy Thursday is Jesus kneeling on the floor with a towel around his waist. He is grasping the reluctant foot of one of his disciples, doing the lowly job that none of them was willing to do. If one of them did that job and allowed himself to be the lowliest, even for an evening, he might never shake it. All of the others might expect him to always take the lowly jobs. He might never be respected or treated with the same honor as the others by the rest of the group.
So when Jesus did the job, he humbled them all. They were all lowered by being so stubborn as to make the master be the servant. But Jesus’ actions weren’t a power play to put them in their place. With his humble actions, he was preaching a sermon on what a believer should be willing to do for another. A believer is willing to be a servant to all.
How does that compare to your service? How many opportunities to serve others have you passed up in the last day, week, or year because you preferred to serve yourself? Typically, like the disciples, we sit at the table expecting others to serve us, or at least to be left alone to do what we want. When we do serve, we are often far from humble and lowly.
Jesus didn’t stop with serving as foot washer. That night he also served as waiter. But it wasn’t earthly food he dished up. He served himself. He gave his body and blood together with the bread and wine. He knew that his disciples—and his church—needed strength to carry out the task of service.
It wasn’t just for strength that he gave the Lord’s Supper; it was for forgiveness. When you stand in front of church burdened by the memories of self-service rather than service to God, when you are haunted by images of those who needed you but you passed by because you didn’t feel like helping or even noticing them, then see your Savior’s body and blood offered for you and offered to you. Hear his words, “My body, my blood . . . for your forgiveness.” Be assured that you are forgiven. Then you can get up from that table free to serve as he did.
Thank you, Jesus, for serving us. Help us to serve you. Amen.
This devotion was originally published in Meditations: Daily Devotional® Vol. 60, No. 2. All rights reserved.
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