Are you better than Jesus?

Part 1 (of 3)

1.  Do I serve others in humbling, dirty ways?  

Imagine getting on hands and knees to scrub feet… dirty… smelly… and covered with slippery sweat, mangled hair, and crusty hangnails.  These days washing feet doesn’t seem like big deal- after all, we have hoses.  But in Jesus’ day few jobs were worse.  After doing just that, Jesus, in John 13:14-16, reminds Peter that disciples are disciples precisely by doing and imitating what their teacher does (in this case, Jesus). 

So, what should this kind of humbling, dirty service look like for us?  What do you think?  How have you experienced this or seen it done?  I’m interested in your thoughts because I don’t want to live as though I’m better than Jesus.

To not serve in humbling, dirty ways is like telling Jesus we are better than Him. Disciples humbly serve, non-disciples do not.  Just as a messenger can take no liberty to change the message of the sender (vs. 16), neither should we “say” with our actions “I’m just not a servant.”  Jesus noted that a slave isn’t greater than his Lord/Master. 

Jesus Himself humbly served undeserving people.  Are you better than Jesus?