LORD

Since the fall of man, this world is a scene of struggle, where power determines one’s position on the earth. The celebrated author Rudyard Kipling described the savage happenings on this planet with the phrase ‘nature, red in tooth and claw’. Even the Lord Jesus noted the principle of leadership in this age by saying, ‘Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them’, Mark 10. 42. He then went on to outline the completely different mode of advancement in His kingdom, ‘But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many’, Mark 10. 43-45.

In John chapter 13, the Lord Jesus physically depicted this mode of servant-leadership by washing His disciples’ feet. Despite the fact that He is ‘Lord’ - the sovereign, all-powerful God of the universe - He condescendingly took the lowest place. Feet washing before a meal was the task of the most menial bondslave. In spite of this, the One who left heaven and veiled His glory in human flesh, now displays His supreme humility by this simple act of service. As Philippians chapter 2, verses 7 and 8 remind us, He ‘made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross’. Yet, such voluntary humiliation inevitably leads to supreme promotion in the government of God. As Philippians chapter 2 verses 9-11 continue: ‘Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’. Jesus is unquestionably Lord, and is destined to rule over the universe; this notwithstanding, at His first coming He took the lowest place.