"Jesus the Servant"

  One by one, Peter observed feet being washed. This Messiah, the Master approached him and Peter protests. Jesus tell him he doesn't understand what is about to happen. Peter is blunt with Jesus and refuses to accept his Master's conduct. "Never will you wash my feet!" It's interesting this word "never" is a double negative. It simply means, "never, ever!" To Peter, this is was not a sign of greatness and power. With all the power that Jesus had shown and here He is washing dirty feet. It seems to be more of an embarrassment to Peter than anything. Leaders don't do this! This isn't any way that the anointed of God should act!

  Then came the words from the Messiah: "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me!" (John 13:8) Very serious words to hear. For Peter to share in the destiny and purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ it was going to be decided at that moment. Why? Because Peter was refusing to accept the spirit of service that was manifested by Jesus. It wasn't a threat Jesus made but a fundamental spirit which was being manifested. This was a declaration of fact! There is only One God and He is a serving Lord!! One cannot reject the spirit of the Master while maintaining they are His followers. One can't have Jesus while repudiating His heart!

  We turn to us, His church, disciples of Christ. What do we find? We pay a preacher to do our work, our service. People are upset if the preacher isn't doing his job! And what is that job? It's a paid position to serve in the name of us, the church while we have no responsibility in the matter. This Master and Lord sent a message to His church: "He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers." (Eph. 4:11) Some is the key word here. Not all, just some. Why does Jesus provide His church with these different roles? "For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ." (Eph. 4:12) The work of service is from the body to build up the body. To dismiss this and not accept the work of service is to dismiss the servanthood of Jesus. And without this servanthood in each one of His followers, Jesus told Peter, you have no part of Me! That should get our attention.