Ministry Model

Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended , the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 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...

I have just started my last semester in Seminary; like most seminarians I want to become a full-time minister as soon as I graduate. The temptation, I think, is to look for a setting where I can assert myself by throwing the weight of a measly M.Div in their faces, and Lord it over them, "You listen to me because I'm educated." I'm certain that this is how ministry works in most churches in the US. But the passage above is the paradigmatic example of what ministry is. It's funny that John states it the way he does, why does he put verse 3 in there? It's not really necessary, is it? In John's gospel Jesus knows this information in chapter 1, so stating it again can only be to emphasize something. I like to stop reading and think about stuff like this for a while. Jesus, knowing everything belongs to him, and that he is going back to his Father, chooses to wash feet! If the one who came from his Father, and the one who owns everything chooses to kneel down and wash feet, then all of our achievements should not leave us standing tall, they should drive us to our knees. So then a Master's of Divinity should only equal some warm towels and exfoliation soap. A Ph.D, D.Min or any other achievement are just comfortable house slippers. If the achievement doesn't equip us for better service, then we've missed the point.

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet.

For God's glory and your service,

God's Court Jester