What does a true servant look like? What does a true servant do?
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:3–5)
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5–8)
Most people chose to be served rather than being a servant to others. It’s human nature to want to have things our way and to be well taken care of because of the attitude that we feel we deserve it. The attitudes of narcissism and entitlement have grown to epidemic proportions. How can we push back against the toxic mindset of entitlement? Consider the attitude of Jesus and what He has done to serve you. The grace work of Jesus and his cleansing service of the cross will destroy the attitude of entitlement.
Jesus is the only one who really is entitled to anything, and has everything, because God has placed all things under Him. Jesus is God, deserving of all praise and glory and yet He humbled himself to become the servant of man in order to wash away man’s sin. Just as Jesus laid aside His outer cloak and added the towel of a servant, Jesus left heaven and added to himself humanity in order to serve man by removing the contamination and penalty of sin. The night of Passover dinner, Jesus moved around the table and one by one washed the feet of the disciples. In the same way, Jesus has come to earth and will one by one cleanse and save anyone who calls upon His name. Jesus has come to wash away your sin, will you let Him? Will you let Jesus serve you and wash you and make you clean? The Apostle Paul said it best, “‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’” (Acts 22:16)