6-20-21 | Influence | Jeremy Hudson
To Love is To Lead
Two weeks ago, I wrote about “unsuspecting leaders” who were surprised to be confronted with their own leadership potential.
In the thirteenth chapter of John’s Gospel, we see another, even more provocative leadership scene play out with Jesus and His disciples.
Jesus … rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments,
and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water
into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them
with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:3-5
Jesus’ actions here surely sucked the oxygen right out of the room because culturally this scene should have never taken place. The job of washing guests’ feet was supposed to be done by the most insignificant person in the household, normally the servant with the least amount of status or favor. And the person whose feet were supposed to be washed first should have been the most important person, the guest of honor.
In other words, in that room on that night, everyone expected for Jesus to have His feet washed first. Nobody would have ever guessed that Jesus, the Son of God, would lower himself to the position of touching everyone else’s feet.
But He didn’t just do that, did He? Before He went about His menial task, John tells us that He first took off his outer garments and tied a towel around His waist. This is significant because His outer garments would have been a demarcation of His authority as a teacher. In tossing His tunic, Jesus was setting aside His status.
Let’s not miss the significance of the job He was taking on. This wasn’t a ceremonial foot washing like we may see at the occasional wedding or other life celebration event. This was an act of health and hygiene. The filth and contamination on the streets through which sandaled feet had to walk made this act a necessary job, albeit a disgusting one. Yet Jesus, out of loving concern for His disciples, had no qualms in touching the untouchable task.
This whole act of loving service to the Twelve would be only a foreshadowing of what Jesus was about to do for all mankind on Calvary’s Cross. The loving leadership of our Savior is seen most vibrantly through His posture as a servant.
This is exactly what Paul was referring to in the high language of his ‘Christ Hymn’ found in his letter to the Philippians.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality
with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the
form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus sets the bar high for we, His followers, to follow. Over and over again it is His love for people that leads the way to their hearts. That is why we said this week that “You cannot lead like Jesus without loving.”
As we conclude the #Influence sermon series let’s take stock of what we have learned:
- We all have the ability to lead someone if we can show them something that will change their lives. We call that influence and we all have it.
- If we are Christ-followers, then we are called to influence others by leading them towards Jesus. Jesus Himself told us that to be His follower means “teaching people how to follow what we have learned from Him.”
- The nature of being a disciple means that we are both being led by and leading others in our shared desire to follow Christ well.
- When those who claim to be Christ-followers do well, it will greatly impact our community and through our community the world.
- Leading like Jesus means loving people the way He did… and every one of us can do that!
Fellowship Family…
We have been given the high calling and the great opportunity to make sure that everyone in Springfield, Clark County, and the Greater Miami Valley can be able to say
“If I saw Jesus walking down the street, I think I would recognize Him… because His followers have already shown me what He looks like!”