With exactly a month to go before Easter, we have a few short devotionals on the theme of following in the footsteps of Jesus even as He poured out His life for us.

 

Have you ever had someone interrupt a heartfelt conversation? Maybe you were venting about how unimaginably terrible your boss was or how your kids just refused to listen to you all day, and then—plink—someone drops a dime into your million-dollar monologue. They say something random like, “Did you notice my new highlights?” or “Did you hear what happened between Mary and Jo?”

I’m guessing we’ve all experienced this. Admittedly, I’ve interjected unnecessary comments into conversations when I should have simply listened. It’s one of the downsides of being a verbose and distractable person (I need prayer!)

As Jesus poured out His heart at the Last Supper, His disciples listened intently. But then they dropped a somewhat awkward conversation in the middle of this weighty moment. What was the interruption about? It was the “Who’s at the top of the leaderboard?” debate.

In Luke 22, Jesus explains to His closest friends that He will soon be leaving them. It is a sacred moment as He speaks of the new covenant: His body being broken and His blood being poured out for them.

Right on the heels of this sanctified moment, the disciples squabble over who’s the best among them. It seems so petty. The Savior was about to be hung on a tree—and these 12 men were hung up on position and power.

But then Jesus turns to them with these words: “The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.” (Luke 22: 26)

And then Jesus adds, “But I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22: 27)

In the gospel of John, Jesus does the work of the lowliest of servants by washing the feet of His disciples. It was a stunning act of humility. And here’s the clincher: Jesus washed the feet of Judas, His betrayer. Let that sink in for a moment because when you meditate on that moment, you will come away undone.

Friend, Jesus rewrites the script to show us that servanthood is something we strive toward. He sets servanthood as a benchmark that we aspire to. 

The gospel of Mark says: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)

Servanthood wasn’t just a one-off thing that Jesus modeled that day in the Upper Room. It was a key part of Christ’s mission on earth.

Yet, how many of us wrote as our New Year goal: “To be a servant”?

How many churches adopted “servanthood” as their “word” for 2025?

How many preachers and influencers seek to serve rather than be served?

And here’s the most frustrating part—even when we do serve others, something in us craves recognition and applause.

Just last week, I felt overlooked in a certain forum. Instead of aspiring to be a servant, I tried to make my presence felt.

In the weeks leading to Easter, can we follow this rewritten script? Can we aspire to serve others? Can we make that our mission? It is counter-cultural, counter-intuitive, and counter-self. But we are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. When our Savior Himself declares that His mission is to serve, how can we think it beneath us? Jesus modeled servanthood so that it could be our mission.

Bring it Home

Have I ever considered that servanthood is something that Christ-followers need to aspire to?

What are some practical ways I can die to myself this week?

Lean In

Father God, I have put myself at the center of every story way too many times. I have made it all about me too often. Would you forgive me and cleanse me from pandering to my ego and pride? Create in my heart the longing to be “the least” and “the last” in a world that promotes “the greatest” and “the first.” May my goal, my mission be to serve and not to be served. In Jesus’ name. Amen

 

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