A Reflection On True Greatness

When I need to follow Jesus’ example of service

At His last Passover dinner, Jesus took off His respectable clothes and wrapped Himself in a servant’s towel. He washed what, in a semi-arid climate and a pedestrian culture, would be the dirtiest part of the human body. There is nothing glorious about cleaning feet. Jesus spotted the dirtiest, most thankless area of physical need for the disciples and met it as an illustration of His mission. Then He got up and told the disciples that they should behave in exactly the same way.

How often do we consciously perform acts of service that others consider unworthy of their talents? How often do we approach the needs of this world with a self-emptying attitude that will stoop as low as those needs demand? It goes against our human nature, doesn’t it? We’re always striving to work our way up, not work our way down. But Jesus’ example might lead us in another direction—farther down. Toward less glory. With less recognition. According to the Savior, that’s the way to greatness in God’s Kingdom.

I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

John 13:15