The Suffering Servant

Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.

Something was missing. The disciples noticed immediately. When they entered the Upper Room to celebrate the Passover Feast with Jesus they whispered to each other, “Where is the servant? Who will wash our feet?” The disciples felt uncomfortable all through the first portion of the meal. Should one of them offer to wash the other’s feet? The thought was dismissed as beneath them. No wonder they were shocked when Jesus got up from the meal, took a towel and washbasin, and began to wash their feet! How can this be? They should be washing his feet!

Washing the disciple’s feet, like Calvary soon to follow, was done because Jesus knew why he had come into the world and where he was going. He was free to be a servant because he knew that he was the Suffering Servant. Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” That means more than water and a towel. Serving one another in Jesus’ name means really caring, lifting burdens, standing with each other in difficulties, and doing the forgiving, reconciling things regardless of cost.

Let us pray: God of love, help us to think, act and react as a servant, doing what we can to serve others today. Through Christ, we know where we came from and where we’re going and therefore we have nothing to lose and everything to give. In Jesus’ name. Amen.