Years ago (while it was still on television) a friend of mine was talking about how much she loved the show, Mad Men. It was in the final season and I had never seen one entire episode. I knew next to nothing about it, so I started watching it on Netflix as everyone else watched it ending, live. It quickly sucked me in, and I was hooked. Although if you think about it, it’s horrible.
The cheating, the lying, the drinking, the sabotaging … you name it. But it seems to be extremely accurate based on what I have read, for the time period.
Anyway, Terry never watched it, so we are watching it together. We recently watched an episode where a character (I won’t spoil it in case you haven’t seen it) said in front of Don and Betty Draper, “I live to serve!”
It was hard to tell if this person was being sincere or snarky, but for several minutes following this part of the episode, I kept thinking to myself, “Do I live to serve?”
The girl who reads her Bible every day wants to say, “Oh yes, I sure do! Gladly!”
But the girl who is tired and somewhat over being the one everyone knows “Oh, don’t worry, Aimee will do it,” in whatever situation, thinks, “I don’t know. I’m kind of sick of serving. I want someone else to serve. I want someone to say they live to serve me!”
As I thought those very words, I could feel the Holy Spirit nudging me, “You mean, like Jesus?”
Yoinkers.
Don’t you just hate it when your spiritual toes get stepped on so hard?
I keep going back to the message Pastor Steve taught us about looking for the towel. (My April 10, 2020 post).
Pastor Steve told us, “We need to be looking for the towel and jumping in to serve. That’s where we find life!”
“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 13:4-5 (NIV)
Jesus simply washed their feet.
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” - John 13:12-17 (NIV)
Jesus didn’t stand up, stretch His back and groan. He didn’t say, “Wow. Did everyone here see what I just did? I must really love y’all a lot to do this. Peter? Are you paying attention? Hey, John. Write this down. I washed everyone’s feet. Matthew, you got this? I washed your feet. I loved on you all, big time. Judas, this is a pretty big deal, I hope you realize. I even washed your feet, even though I know you are going to sell me out, and I will die.”
No. Jesus did not say any of those things. He did not draw attention to the fact He had been on the floor, washing their feet. He did not complain and tell them bending over hurt His back, or made His neck sore. He just did it. And He gently told them He set an example for them to do as He did.
No servant is greater than his master.
I think of Mary and Martha, and the buzzing around their home when Jesus came to speak. How often have I been like Martha, more focused on the meal than the love shared around the table? Too worried about whether or not the taquitos will turn out crisp and the guacamole will have just the right texture, while making sure my cilantro lime sauce is ready for the rice, rather than praying Terry and I are an encouragement for the guests sharing a meal at our table.
I just want a heart like Jesus. If I have a heart like His, I will say without an ounce of sarcasm, “I live to serve.”