Serving is the tenth article in the series, The Life of Jesus Christ. To read the whole series click here.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). We can rob others of the blessing of giving if we won’t receive from them.
When Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, Peter doesn’t want to be served. Both of his responses tell us that Peter is a reluctant receiver. “No, … you shall never wash my feet” (John 13:8). When this response doesn’t deter Jesus, Peter goes to the other extreme. “Then, Lord, … not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” (v. 9).
Peter didn’t want to accept the gift being offered to him. He doesn’t want to be seen as vulnerable, rather he wants to be in control, especially as the situation has moved away from cultural norms. (Washing feet was a servant’s job).
Likewise, many Christians are reluctant to let you serve them. The world values self-sufficiency, it takes humility to receive help. An independent person who feels self-sufficient isn’t going to appreciate someone trying to meet their needs. They will either brush them aside, ignore their act of service or try to pay for it with money or in-kind goods. Jesus doesn’t do any of these things. He accepts the woman who anointed his feet with gratitude and makes a point of acknowledging her service to him (John 12:3; Matthew 26:13). This happens only days before Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, perhaps they should have paid more attention.
Some non-Christians struggle with Christ’s claims. Perhaps, at an unconscious level, they don’t like having to accept the fact that there’s nothing they can do to earn their salvation. Gifts are not as easy to receive as one might think. Interestingly children have no problem receiving gifts which is perhaps why Jesus says we need to become like little children (Matthew 18:3).
