Master and Servant 

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” (John 13:1-6).

When the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí was struck by a tram on his way to church and lost consciousness, bystanders assumed he was a poor beggar. He was wearing the same ragged clothes as always and had no identification on him. Who knew that he was responsible for the Sagrada Familia church and many other stunning Barcelona structures? He was a master disguised as a humble servant. In fact, he considered himself a mere, humble servant. 

As John begins his account of Jesus’ last evening in the upper room, he wants us to see Jesus as both master and servant. That is, after all, what he was and is. He came from heaven, where he ruled and owned everything. He came to earth, to a particular place, among a specific people, and served.  

Imagine being the disciples that evening. They must have wondered: are we following a master, or a servant? He claims to be the Messiah. But he’s washing our feet like he’s a slave. 

Over the coming twenty-four hours, their confusion would turn to disappointment and heartbreak. Their master and their servant had not ruled or served in the way they expected. It was only later, after his resurrection, that the disciples could look back to that evening in the upper room and realize that they were sharing a meal with an absolutely unique person: the Lord of glory and the humblest of servants. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power … so he got up and served.

Lent is a great time to remember that, in Jesus, we rule and reign and judge

(e.g., 1 Corinthians 6:3; 2 Timothy 2:12), but we are simultaneously the humblest of his servants (e.g., John 13:16; Matthew 20:26). May we become like Gaudí, concerned to serve our Master with excellence, and glad to be overlooked by everyone but him. May we treasure the Lord Jesus Christ, the master and servant of his people.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we feel that we are too immature and weak to rule and reign and judge, and at the same time, we are too proud to humbly serve. You can change us, though. This Lent, bring us into the upper room to behold your masterful service and your humble mastery, and convince our hearts to become your disciples and imitators. Give us hope that you will accomplish this in our character, so that we are prepared to rule with you and serve with you for all eternity in your glory. In your name. Amen.