agri.church

Take a minute to read John 13:1-9:

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love. It was time for supper, and the Devil had already enticed Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him. When he came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, why are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now why I am doing it; someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “But if I don’t wash you, you won’t belong to me. Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Richard Foster comments on this passage by writing: “When Jesus began to wash the feet of those he loved, Peter refused. He would never let his Master stoop to such a menial service on his behalf. It sounds like a statement of humility; in reality it was an act of veiled pride.”

So often we don’t mind doing the serving. But being served? We’d rather not. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve responded to an offer of help with these words, “No thanks. I’m ok.” I may desperately need the help but I am too stubborn - too prideful to admit it. Or, if I can accept the offer, I then feel an overwhelming need to pay the person back. I have to get even (in a good, godly way, of course). But again, all of this is pride. And pride must go.

So….it is true that pride dies a little death when we serve others. But it also dies when we receive the service of others, never feeling we must repay it.