Faith Venture

I’m still pondering Jesus’ last week before his execution. That week was crucially important to his followers. A huge chunk of the Gospels detail that one week. Events leading to his birth take a little space, his 2-1/2 year ministry about half, the last week something like 40 percent, and the 40 days he was with them after his resurrection is barely detailed (none at all in Mark).

John, probably the Gospel that can be traced to Jesus’ inner circle, does not talk about the Passover Meal in detail. He is the only one to talk about the foot washing. Obviously that was significant.

There they were. Still thinking that Jesus was going to be King of Israel, kicking the Romans out. Only a few days before, they had entered Jerusalem as potential conquerors. They were celebrated the high holy days of Passover. Emotions had to be high and optimistic. When and how was Jesus going to reveal his true destiny as King?

Then, at dinner, Jesus removed his outer garment, and like a slave or servant, prepared to wash the disciples’ feet. Now, wait just a second there, partner. This is not the work of a King. This is not the work of the disciples or any Hebrew man. Servants do this dirty work.

They still don’t know what’s up. Peter says that no way he’s going to let a King wash his feet. Kings don’t do that. But Jesus says, “If I don’t wash your feet, then you won’t have any place in my kingdom.” So Peter says, in effect, then wash all of me.

It had to be difficult. When you have one thing in your head, it’s hard to grasp the opposite. Happens to us. All the time. They had one vision of King in their heads. They just couldn’t grasp a different view.

Jesus was showing a new kind of king. A new kind of leader. It wasn’t about power. It was about serving.

As Bill Hybels, sr. pastor of Willow Creek Community Church asked in his Easter message–imagine if all the politicians in America would put aside their petty squabbling and power struggles and truly serve American people; imagine if business leaders put aside their power and truly served their people; imagine if husbands and wives put aside their agendas and truly served each other.

It has been 20 years shy of 2,000 years since Jesus showed a new kind of leadership by voluntarily allowing himself to be executed. Yet, humans still have a problem understanding servant leadership.

Try imagining a new world.

Boxing legend Muhammed Ali generated a lot of publicity in the 60s with his boast, “I am the greatest.” The rock group Queen followed in the late 70s with the perennial sports anthem, “We are the champions of the world.” But it’s not just 20th Century America who is concerned with being the best.

The closest followers of Jesus became embroiled in a heated discussion as they were walking toward another city. Imagine an animated yet whispered (because they didn’t want the teacher to know) argument–who is the greatest disciple.

So Jesus naturally asks, what were you discussing? They were ashamed. Of course. Ever see a kid get “busted?” Even a dog has a look of shame when you call it out for doing something even it knows it shouldn’t be doing. But for Jesus every life experience is an opportunity for teaching. So he throws out one of his paradoxes. If you want to be the greatest, you must be the servant.

He then pulls a child to him to emphasize the fact. You see, children were not romanticized in the ancient world as they are today–especially in Britain and America. They were little people, and being little and unable to do much work, they had little value. We, on the other hand, tend to get gushy sentimental about kids and think our goal in life is to provide them everything they could possibly want to make them happy. (That doesn’t work, but that’s a different teaching.)

Organizations have been built on the principle that all honor and glory should be given to the CEO (or bishop, or whatever role). That person gives orders to people who give orders to people and so on until finally work gets done. This has been the manufacturing model–a model upon which schools and churches have been built.

But all that is changing. We’re seeing a change in manufacturing, where the insights and ideas of every person in the company is solicited and valued. We’re seeing CEOs (often the most successful) who understand their role is to support others. We’re seeing the most successful churches are those where the leadership gifts of everyone are encouraged, and missions and ministries are built from the ground up–rather than ordered from the top down. Maybe we’re finally learning from Jesus.

If you want to be the greatest, be the servant of all.

Have you moved from your home town or neighborhood? Ever go back? People remember you as you were, not what you’ve become. I’m from a very small town. Not that many people remember me, now, but when I had been gone only 10 or 20 years, people would remember taking up collections to buy razor blades for me (only guy in town with a beard in 1968, I guess) or some of my other youthful transgressions.

Maybe even if you still live in the same place and you want to improve yourself–maybe as a writer or speaker–and people say “She’s only someone we know.” We do tend to place people in categories and refuse to let them grow and excel. Somehow only people from far away know what they are doing.

Jesus discovered this truth about life. He had been touring the small cities in Galilee teaching and healing and followed by large crowds. Then he made it to the town where he grew up. “People” said, “He’s just the son of a carpenter, what makes him so great?” They could not see what he had become. They could only see what he had been–a little boy learning from his father. And Mark says that he could do no great miracles, only healing a few people.

Malcolm Gladwell in his book, “The Tipping Point,” discusses the spread of ideas (taken from a study of the spread of epidemics). One of his three points is “The Power of Context.” The environment around you has great impact on you and the work you can do. It affected Jesus. It affects you, too. Surround yourself with negative people, and you will find it hard to succeed.

That is one of the potentials of church that often falls short. If your church, which is your support group, is negative, does not encourage everyone to use their talents to the fullest, then every individual who wants to make a difference is affected by the disease of despair or disillusionment. However, a faith group intent on encouraging each other to exercise the fullest of their talents can generate awesome results.

The concept of an “unconference” is one where you go to a conference that is not highly organized, but that participants determine what they want to discuss (within the bounds of the conference organizer) and then go to the small groups where the indepth discussion takes place. There is the “Law of Two Feet.” If you are in a discussion where you are neither participating or learning, walk to another group.

If you are in a community that discourages your initiative, use the Law of Two Feet. Find one that is supportive.