#2. Jesus as Our Example of Service: Following Christ's Model of Humility!
- lorijanehawkins
- May 20
- 6 min read
The Creator Who Served
What if the creator of the universe knelt down to wash your dirty feet?
This is not a hypothetical question. It is exactly what happened when Jesus, knowing His divine authority and power, took a towel and basin and performed the job reserved for the lowest household servant.
In our first lesson on biblical service, we explored what service means: putting others' needs before our own. Today, we are examining the ultimate example of service: Jesus Christ himself, and how His revolutionary approach to serving others can transform our everyday interactions.
Why Jesus' Example Matters Today
We live in a culture obsessed with power, status, and influence. From social media to corporate ladders, we are constantly pushed to climb higher, gain more followers, and increase our personal influence.
Did you know the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions every day? That is approximately 3,000 per hour, 50 per minute, and just under 1 per second.
Each decision presents an opportunity to either serve ourselves or serve others.
Jesus offered a radical alternative to our status-obsessed world:
"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 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 10:43-45 (NIV)
When we follow Jesus' example of service, we're not just doing good deeds – we're participating in a revolution against self-centeredness. His approach helps us:
Redefine success in our lives
Build relationships based on genuine care
Find meaning beyond material achievement
Reflect Christ's character to others
Research consistently finds that spirituality and religious commitment are positively linked to life satisfaction and well-being (Frontiers in Psychology, 2019). Serving others as a spiritual practice becomes a powerful source of purpose and fulfillment when modeled after Christ.
How Jesus Modeled Service: The Master
Imagine having the power to command armies of angels but choosing instead to wash the dirt from between someone's toes.
In John 13:3-5, 12-15 (NLT), we see one of the most profound demonstrations of service in history:
"Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him... After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, 'Do you understand what I was doing? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.'"
This wasn't just about clean feet – it was a masterclass in humility that shocked everyone in the room. In Jesus' day, foot washing was reserved for the lowest servant, often a non-Jewish slave. For Jesus to take this role was culturally unthinkable.
What made Jesus' approach to service so revolutionary?
1. He Served from a Place of Security
Jesus knew His identity and authority. The passage specifically mentions that Jesus knew "the Father had given him authority over everything" and that He "had come from God and would return to God." He didn't serve to prove His worth but because He was secure in who He was.
2. He Served the Undeserving
Perhaps most shocking, Jesus washed Judas's feet, knowing Judas would betray Him. He served those who hadn't earned it and couldn't repay Him. This challenges our tendency to serve only those who deserve it or can benefit us in return.
3. He Disrupted Hierarchy
By taking the lowest position, Jesus challenged social norms and crossed boundaries established by His culture. He demonstrated that true greatness isn't found in status but in sacrifice.
The ultimate act of service, of course, came at the cross. Philippians 2:7-8 (NIV) tells us:
"He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
From healing the sick to feeding the hungry to ultimately giving His life, Jesus' entire life shows that true greatness comes through sacrifice and service.
The Science Behind Service
Modern research supports the transformative power of serving others:
Strength-based service: Using your strengths to help others is linked to increased well-being and resilience (SAGE Journals, 2025).
Brain benefits: Acts of service and compassion activate brain regions related to empathy, meaning, and social connection. Training in compassion can even change brain structure and improve mental health (Frontiers in Neurology, 2023; PMC/PubMed, 2022).
Empathy growth: Regularly practicing empathy and compassionate acts can strengthen the brain's capacity for empathy over time (Frontiers in Psychology, 2022).
While these benefits aren't why we serve, they remind us that God's design for service aligns with how He created us to function and flourish.
3 Ways to Follow Jesus' Example Today
What would change if you approached every relationship asking, "How can I serve this person?" instead of "What can I get from them?"
Here are three powerful practices to help develop a servant heart like Jesus:
1. Use Your Strengths to Serve
Just as Jesus served from a place of confidence, identify your gifts and resources and use them for others. Research shows that focusing on strengths can empower both individuals and communities to flourish.
Ask yourself:
What skills or resources do I have that could help someone else?
Where can I use my position or privilege to benefit others?
The key insight here is that true confidence leads to service, not domination. When we're secure in who we are, we don't need to prove ourselves by being served – we can freely serve others.
2. Cross Boundaries in Service
Try this experiment: Serve someone this week who can never pay you back or advance your social status. Notice how it affects your heart.
Jesus consistently crossed social boundaries to serve – reaching out to the marginalized, touching the untouchable, and dignifying the overlooked.
Challenge yourself to identify one person or group you typically overlook and serve them this week. This might mean serving someone from a different social circle, economic background, or belief system.
3. Practice Humble Service
What's your modern-day equivalent of foot washing – the service that costs you your pride?
It might be:
Taking on an unglamorous task everyone else avoids
Helping someone difficult who rarely shows gratitude
Serving without recognition or praise
The question isn't "What's beneath me?" but rather "What opportunity to serve am I missing because of my pride?"
Look for a "foot washing moment" this week – an opportunity that challenges your ego. Then watch how it changes your perspective.
Your Service Challenge: One Day Like Jesus
For one day this week, approach every interaction with the question: "How would Jesus serve in this moment?"
This isn't about grand gestures but about bringing Jesus' heart of service into your daily:
Interactions with family members
Work responsibilities
Conversations with strangers
Routine activities
At the end of the day, reflect:
What was most challenging about serving like Jesus?
What surprised you?
How did serving change your perspective on your relationships?
Remember what Jesus promised in Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV):
"Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
By following Jesus' example, we're not just doing nice things – we're participating in God's upside-down kingdom where the last become first and the humble are exalted.
Service: Following in the Footsteps of Jesus
Service isn't about being a doormat – it's about following the footsteps of the most influential person in history. Learning to serve like Jesus is a lifelong journey. Sometimes you'll reflect His heart beautifully, and sometimes you'll struggle. That's part of the process.
The question ultimately becomes: Will you be remembered for what you accumulated or for how you served?
Jesus didn't just talk about service – He lived it. And through His example, He invites each of us to discover the paradoxical truth that the path to greatness runs through service.
Stay tuned for Lesson 3: Why We Serve – exploring the deep motivations that drive genuine service.
What "foot washing moments" have you experienced in your own life?
References
PBS North Carolina. “How Many Decisions Do We Make In One Day?” (2021)3.
Frontiers in Psychology. “The Role of Spirituality and Religiosity in Subjective Well-Being” (2019)4.
Frontiers in Neurology. “Can prosocial values improve brain health?” (2023)6.
Frontiers in Psychology. “Inter-brain plasticity underlies empathic learning in social interactions” (2022)7.
PMC/PubMed. “Neural Basis of Prosocial Behavior” (2022)9.
SAGE Journals. “Identifying and Applying a Strength-Based Research Approach in Health” (2025)5.
Journal of Religion and Health. “A Bibliometric Analysis of the Journal of Religion and Health” (2023)8.
Next time: We’ll explore “Why We Serve”-the deeper motivations behind genuine service. Until then, may you follow the ultimate servant, Jesus Christ.
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