Kingdom Demonstrated by King Washing Feet

David W Palmer

(John 13:3–4 NLT) Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. {4} So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist.

To our natural way of thinking—according to what we see in the world system all around us—these two verses don’t fit together. Jesus knew that he was divine and paramount in authority; yet he stooped readily and simultaneously to the role of servant.

God gave Jesus authority over everything; “He is Lord of all lords and King of all kings.” This is confirmed in several places:

(Matthew 28:18 NLT) Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”

(Colossians 1:18 NKJV) And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

(Philippians 2:9–10 NLT) Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

(Revelation 17:14 NLT) Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.

When we consider Jesus’s unlimited authority and his supreme right to rule, it seems incongruent that the very next verse would say, “So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist” to wash feet. Surely the very next statement coming from one who had just been given all authority—not only to rule the world, but “everything” else as well—would be more like this: “Right, from now on, this is how it is going to be; I’m in charge; we do things my way … or off with your head.”

Or perhaps the next verse could have read more like this one; it describes what happened when God anointed Jehu king of Israel:

(2 Kings 9:12–13 NKJV) … “Thus says the LORD: ‘I have anointed you king over Israel.’” {13} Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!”

In a fascinating reversal from what could have been expected, Jesus didn’t say or require anything like this. Jesus—the God of the universe reigning in absolute power and authority—used his crowning moment to immediately take on the posture and function of the lowliest servant. Wow! This truly reveals God’s amazing love for people and his humble heart.

(John 13:5 NKJV) After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Our Lord and reigning King, Jesus, was perfectly aware of who he was and the limitless extent of his reigning power; yet he set the culture for his kingdom by serving. This set a precedent for all of his followers, disciples, and loyal subjects; Jesus’s kingdom esteems humility and serving.

Like Jesus, we know who we are in him; we are first generation sons and daughters of God. In Jesus’s name, we also have limitless authority to fulfill his will. We are seated in him at God’s right hand, and we have the full privileges of God’s very own children. But, also like Jesus, we can choose to use our privilege and authority to serve. We can elect to multiply the culture Jesus sowed when he made his first reigning act one of serving:

(Galatians 5:13 NLT) For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Today, I encourage you to believe in and to operate in your complete freedom and absolute authority in Christ—along with enjoying your royal privileges in the firstborn divine Son. But I also encourage you to imitate Jesus in his humble service for humanity. From his example, we see that this is the greatest use of the freedom, privilege, and authority we have in him. We too can temporarily deny ourselves the right to privilege so we can emulate his values and vision. We can serve, heal, love, protect, and give—laying our lives down daily so Jesus can live through us and God’s dream can be fulfilled. This is why Jesus says this to his followers:

(Mat. 16:24 NKJV) “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Jesus is Lord—a humble Lord

Jesus is King—a shepherd King

Jesus is the ultimate Leader—a servant-leader

Jesus is a Son—a son fully surrendered to his Father’s will

Jesus is the one in us and we in him

Let’s allow his royal humility and servant-leadership to live in and through us in every situation we encounter today:

(Galatians 2:20 NKJV) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”