Saturday, June 6 — Jesus, the Pattern for Leaders
If you wanted to define greatness for all time, you might pick a throne. Jesus picked a towel and a basin of dirty water.
John 13:3-17 — KJV 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
John 13:3-17 — WEB 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God, 4 arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered him, "You don't know what I am doing now, but you will understand later." 8 Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I don't wash you, you have no part with me." 9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you." 11 For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, "You are not all clean." 12 So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me, 'Teacher' and 'Lord.' You say so correctly, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you. 16 Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."
Explanation
All week we've watched leaders set an example, care, build others up, listen, and intercede. On Saturday we arrive at the pattern beneath all of them — the night Jesus knelt on the floor.
John frames the scene with a deliberate detail in verse 3: Jesus does this knowing the Father had given all things into His hands. He wasn't washing feet because He'd forgotten who He was. He did it precisely because He knew exactly who He was. Security, not insecurity, is what frees a person to serve. Foot-washing was the job of the lowest household servant — feet caked with the dust and worse of unpaved roads. The disciples had walked right past the basin, every one of them too important to stoop. So Jesus, the one Person in the room with a real claim to be served, laid aside His garments, wrapped a towel around His waist, and did the dirty work nobody else would touch.
Peter can't stand it. "Thou shalt never wash my feet." It feels like reverence, but it's really resistance — Peter wants a Messiah he can salute, not one who kneels in front of him with a basin. And Jesus is firm: if you won't let me serve you, you have no part with me. You can't follow this Lord and refuse the towel.
Then verse 14 turns the whole thing into a marching order: "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet." This isn't a suggestion for spiritual specialists. It's the job description for everyone who claims His name. And verse 17 closes with the only kind of happiness that lasts: blessed are you if you do them — not if you merely admire them.
Tomorrow we meet Deborah, who leads not by lording over Israel but by stepping into the danger alongside Barak. Today we see where that courage comes from. The greatest leader in history measured greatness downward — toward the floor, toward the feet, toward the need no one else would meet.
For a Saturday, with the week's chores and the people in your house, this is bracingly concrete. Whose "feet" are in front of you? The dishes nobody else will do. The hard apology. The errand for an aging parent. The text to someone you'd rather avoid. Leadership in the kingdom of God always smells a little like dishwater. Pick up the towel.
Thought for the Day The greatest leader knelt with a towel.
Reflection Question What's the most "beneath you" task in your home or workplace right now — and what would it mean to do it the way Jesus did?
Prayer Lord Jesus, You knew exactly who You were and You knelt anyway. Free us from the insecurity that has to be served, and give us the security that's free to serve. Show us the towel within our reach today, and make us happy not just to know Your example, but to live it. Amen.
This week we walk toward Sunday's lesson: Deborah, a Leader in a National Emergency.