Turning Leadership on its head!
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Turning Leadership on its head!
— Tony Uddin
Today we are at John chapter 13, and I want us to look at how Jesus sets an example of servant leadership. In the chapters just before this, we see Jesus' entry back into Jerusalem. In one sense, warmly welcomed, but in another sense, talking about the fact that he would go to the cross. And what I want us to see is that John's Gospel gives this tremendous detail of the last few hours particularly of Jesus' ministry before he was arrested. As John's gospel moves towards its climax, we see that so much of it is focused on the last couple of days of Jesus' life. And here we see in John 13, Jesus is preparing to go to the cross and in doing so, he sets the example of what it is to be a servant.
It's interesting, isn't it? Just how much leadership is such a contested topic? Our world has high expectations of leadership, but generally low expectations of leaders. We want leaders, we want leadership that will be good, and that will look out for our best. We want leadership that causes others to thrive.
But generally, our experience is of leaders who use the power and authority they have in self-serving ways. That's certainly true in politics. It's often true in business. It's true in so many areas, and unfortunately, at times it's even true of the church and Jesus is leaving and setting the disciples a really powerful example of what servant leadership is.
So let's take a closer look at that. Firstly, the context. Jesus' love is expressed through being with his disciples.
#1 - Jesus' love is expressed through being with his disciples
John 13 verse 1 says,
“Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. ”
On the very last day of Jesus' public ministry, Jesus knew he was going to the cross. And he was communicating something to his disciples simply by the fact that he was with them and that he was giving them his undivided attention.
It's a powerful thing, isn't it, that we show people honour and respect by giving them time? Sometimes it may even be easier to give someone money than it is to give them our time, and what we see is Jesus is giving them time on the last day. Before his arrest, he wants to be with his disciples.
If you knew that your life was to end in a week, it would probably change how you live your life, wouldn't it? If you knew that your life was to end in a month or a year, I think you'd probably live differently. I certainly hope I would.
Jesus knew that within hours he would be arrested. And yet he chose to be with his disciples. By being with them, he was expressing what it is to be a servant leader. But also we know that Jesus was preparing them for the fact that he would go to the cross. He was building them up.
John includes in his gospel, his own reason for writing the gospel. John chapter 20, verse 31.
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John wanted his readers, people like you and me, who would read this gospel to believe in Jesus and through believing in Jesus, find life, real life, eternal life, and life abundant.
And Jesus wanted his disciples to have that. That is why he was willing to go to the cross. In speaking about what was to happen, in preparing his disciples, and in being with them, Jesus was expressing love through servanthood.
I want us just to contrast that with the disciples. This same account, the account of the same thing in Luke 22, shows us that actually there was an argument that developed between the disciples at this time. In verse 24 of Luke 22, it says,
“A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.”
Jesus is preparing to go to the cross to die for your sin and mine, to pay the ultimate price to show what it is to be a servant. And the disciples are jostling for position. They're saying, Jesus, am I gonna be the one that gets the best place when you go?
And in the midst of this, Jesus shows them that true servant-hearted leadership is not something that is just merely expressed in words, but communicated in actions and Jesus' action is of being with them. The phrase that's used there in verse one is he loved them to the end by being with them, by preparing to give his life for them.
Jesus was showing that love is expressed and it's expressed in servant-heartedness.
#2 - Jesus demonstrated his love by washing the disciples' feet
Secondly, Jesus showed them that love is demonstrated and he demonstrated it by washing the disciples' feet. In verse three, we read,
“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
Jesus knew that he was going back to the Father. He knew that he was preparing to face the cross and then would be raised and return to God the father. And in doing so, he sets the tone. This idea that he got up, he says, this is what I have to leave you with. I have to show you something that is so important. And that was that he would wash his disciples' feet.
The scandal of the greatest teacher, whoever was washing the feet of the disciples, the scandal of God himself in human flesh, the one through whom and for whom all things were made, humbling himself before human feet in all of the squalor and filth. It's a remarkable picture. Isn't it?
This is the glory of God. Do you want to see the power and glory of God? The power and glory of God are demonstrated in Jesus washing the disciple's feet.
Years ago I worked in homelessness and there was a podiatrist I worked with, and her role was to go out on the streets and to find entrenched rough sleepers and to really, people were resistant to help very often with extremely poor personal hygiene. And her role was to basically help them with their feet. And I was struck time and time again by how she would literally deal with some of the worst, most unhygienic feet you could imagine. And she'd do it with a smile on her face, treating people with utter dignity and respect. Whenever I think of her, I'm reminded of this passage.
This is a manifestation of the glory of God. Here's the substance. Here's what God looks like getting involved at the lowest possible level. This is the power of God at work as Jesus washed the disciples' feet. You know, it was the job, in the context of the time, of the lowest servant in the house to wash the feet.
It wouldn't even have been a normal servant's job. Really, If you were washing people's feet, you were the lowest of the low. You were at the bottom of the pile. Those of you maybe watched something like Downtown Abbey. You'll have seen the butler. He's quite prim and proper, isn't he?
And so much that he views it as being beneath him. He's risen to a different station in life. And as you go through the different servants, they all look down on the one below.
Well, the job of washing the feet in Jesus' time was for the very lowest of the low. And Jesus demonstrates humility. Jesus demonstrates servanthood by washing their feet.
It's quite interesting as Jesus does this, they would've been shocked and scandalized. And I want us to see, to contrast Peter's response with Jesus. Jesus is demonstrating humility, but in one sense, Peter is demonstrating pride. In verse eight, Peter says,
““No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.””
When Jesus wants to wash the disciples' feet, Peter thinks he knows better and his pride won't let Jesus do it. And one of the things is true humility means acknowledging and understanding that God knows best. Peter's pride is about to be humbled. He's going to come, and we'll see this as these chapters go on, he's going to come to the end of himself, the end of his self-will.
You see, even though it was wrapped up in a kind of false humility, Jesus, I'll never let you do that, what we are experiencing there is pride and self-will. When Jesus reminds him of the need to have his feet washed, Peter says, then wash the whole of me. Don't just stop at my feet.
Interesting how Jesus answers in verse 10,
“Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean,though not every one of you.””
You see, Jesus is going to make them clean through the fact that he would die on the cross. He was about to give his life. Jesus was going to die in their place, in your place and mine, that on the cross, Jesus was going to take every sin, every wrongdoing, all of our selfishness, all the junk from our hearts, and place them on himself so that by having faith in him, we can be made new, forgiven, having a new start.
And Jesus wants Peter to know that that will make him clean, not just having his feet washed. But Jesus wants to do this as a demonstration, and also a metaphor for what it is to lead. That to lead involves servanthood and humility.
And that means, firstly, acknowledging that Jesus is Lord, not us. It means acknowledging that his way is best not ours. It means acknowledging that we can no longer live in our own will. If Jesus was the ultimate servant, then to follow his example, we need to embrace his humility and die to self-will. Watchman Nee famously said,
“Attempting to follow Jesus without denying the self is the root of all failures.”
— Watchman Nee
Peter was about to fail. He was about to deny Jesus. He was about to come to the end of his pride. Jesus was showing him and Jesus' actions show us what true humility looked like. Jesus demonstrates the role of servant leadership. Wouldn't it be amazing if our politicians, our business leaders, our church leaders, lived in such a way that demonstrated that we are first servants?
It's the example Jesus gave, but Jesus gave a demonstration that was to be followed. That's point number three.
#3 - Jesus' actions are for us to follow
Verse 12 says,
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
So Jesus expresses his love for his disciples by being with them. Jesus demonstrates his love for them by washing his feet, but he also gives them a command to do likewise.
Leadership in the kingdom of God is ultimately about serving. We have the example of Jesus. Verse 13 says, You call me Lord and teacher, and rightly so for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and teacher washed your feet, you should also wash one another's feet. If it was good enough for Jesus, then it's the example we should follow.
Think about the examples of servanthood and humility in your life. One of the things that strike me is my father came as a migrant from Bangladesh and when he came, he basically spent his life working all kinds of jobs and working hard because he wanted us to have a better life than he had. He wanted us to have the opportunities that he never had. He gave of himself because he wanted better for us. That's what a good father does. Now, sadly, a lot of fathers aren't that way, but Jesus set the example of what it is to give, to give of ourselves, to give of our very best in a selfless way.
I believe that in the kingdom of God, aspiring to be a servant is an end in itself. And I want to challenge you today. If you want to be a follower of Jesus that involves using whatever power, whatever influence, whatever responsibility you have, whatever privilege you have in life, my challenge is for you today, will you use it for yourself or will you use it for others?
Jesus set the example of the ultimate sacrifice. We don't need to die for anybody's sins. Jesus has done it for us, but like him, we need to be willing to come to the end of ourselves. In that sense, we need to live for him. We need to act in humility and serve others.
What can we do?
So does that mean we should all go around and basically have a service where we wash each other's feet?
Well, I don't think it's about that. What it's about is the example of Jesus willing to take on the lowest of tasks to serve others. I want to ask you, what does that look like for you? Are you willing to take on the lowest of tasks?
Maybe that means mowing someone's lawn. Maybe it means letting others take the credit for the project at work. Maybe it means putting somebody else in the spotlight, allowing them to receive praise. Maybe it means cleaning someone's toilet. Maybe it might mean dropping someone else's kids off for them. Even when you've got a busy day. You see, servanthood is the opposite of selfishness. But also, maybe there's something more fundamental here.
Maybe even the fact that Jesus gave the disciples his time to speak to us about servanthood through giving others our time. I know for me it is very easy to be distracted. I have a short attention span, and maybe being a servant in terms of our leadership means giving the person in front of us our full attention. Maybe it means not looking at our phones while they're speaking. Maybe being a servant means showing up to places on time, and showing respect for others.
Maybe it means being willing to do the hard work, manual grunt work. It might seem to you, maybe it means not asking people to do things that we are not prepared to do ourselves.
The church of Jesus is most beautiful when it is like him, and that is a church of servants.
There's a beautiful passage in Philippians 2 verses 1 to 11, which is in one sense a parallel passage to this passage in John 13.
In John, it says, Jesus got up. Philippians two says, Jesus left the glories of heaven.
This Passage in John says, Jesus took off his robe. Philippians says, Jesus emptied himself and came as a man.
John says Jesus took up a towel. Philippians says Jesus came as a servant.
John shows us that Jesus poured water into a bowl. Jesus' example is that he poured out his life.
It says in this passage in John, that when he finished washing the disciples' feet, he sat down. Philippians tells us that Jesus, when God raised him, is seated at the right hand of God.
Are you willing to follow the example of Jesus, that sacrificial love for God, sacrificial love for each other, and sacrificial love for a hurting and dying world?
Jesus' love, verse one told us, was loving till the end - complete, unending, not tokenistic, not convenient, but sacrificial. What's your response to King Jesus, the king who is a servant? Are you prepared to live a life of service to God and service to others?
God bless you!
CONVERSATION STREET
With: Matt Edmundson & Claire Glare
What is Conversation Street?
Conversation Street is part of our live stream, where the hosts (in this case, Matt & Claire) chat through Tony's talk and answer questions that were sent in through the live stream. You can watch the conversation in the video, it starts 39 mins into the live stream, or you can go straight there by clicking here. This week’s questions and topics of conversation are:
What did you think of Tony's talk?
Tony ends his talk with the question "Will you be more Christ-like by living a life serving others?" And everyone seems to be talking about self-love and self-care at the moment. How do you find the right balance?
Do you think there's a place for self-care in the Christian life?
If you are in a leadership position how can you get better at servant leadership?
Is servanthood more an attitude than an action?
Who do you serve who cannot repay you in any way?
More Bible Verses on Servant Leadership
Hebrews 13:7 - Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Romans 1:1 - Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
Matthew 20:28 - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
1 Timothy 4:12 - Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
2 Timothy 2:15 - Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
1 Peter 5:2-4 - Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Galatians 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
John 3:30 - He must become greater; I must become less.
Matthew 7:12 - So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
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