Humility & Servanthood

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. – John 13:3-5

Happy Easter everyone! Yup. That’s right. Happy Easter. This is no April Fool’s joke. Easter isn’t just a day where we eat a pile of chocolate, get dressed up and head out to church one Sunday. Easter is a season, and it lasts 50 days. So for the next 6 weeks or so Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the King of kings. The season of Easter is meant to be the party to end all parties.

As our missional focus for the month of April shifts to the themes of ‘humility’ and ‘servanthood’, we can do no better than to pay attention to Jesus’ example, especially in the story of Easter. Even though He was the King, He redefined what kings look like by humbling Himself and washing His servant’s feet. He became their servant. He became our servant. He became ‘the servant King’. He set an example of what true kingship, what true power, ought to look like from a Christian perspective.

As we go about the business of running our shelters, it’s important to acknowledge that we as staff have power. We hold the keys. We administer the rules. We decide who gets admitted into a bed and who does not. That’s a heavy responsibility. And it leaves us with the choices of either being just like the rest of the world in how we handle this power, or being humble servants in the same way that Jesus demonstrated His own use of power.

That kind of use of power is the Christian ideal.

Let’s continue to be ‘Easter humble servants’ as we keep striving to be The Hand of God in the Heart of the City.

Peace,

Dion Oxford, Director of Mission Integration