Servant Leadership

The concept of servant leadership started with Jesus' show of humility when he washed his disciples' feet in John 13:1-17. This act was to demonstrate the religious roles of leaders, which differed from what secular society believed about leadership. To everyone, leadership was a place where they ruled with ultimate authority, subjecting their followers to their bidding. But Jesus redefined leadership to be a place of service instead of total authority. It was a place where leaders commit to their subjects. While secular society may not embrace this, the Christian religion follows Christ's life as an example of a life with virtue.

The Commandment (Verses 14–15): After finishing, Jesus explains his actions: "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."

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By washing each other's feet, we are supposed to be our brother's keeper—a place where love dwells and no one feels too big to bow and wash the feet of another. It was a teaching to allow love to live among families, society, and nations, making the world a place where pride no longer lives among us or has a bearing.

I see churches practice this act of feet washing in an attempt to emulate Jesus, but beyond just feet washing, he was teaching something deeper than the physical show of humility or love. He was teaching us what true leadership is: a leadership where no one sees himself as too important to wash another's feet (to show love to them). While secular society makes leadership seem like a place of command, the Bible teaches leadership as a place of love, a place of service, and a place where humility rules over pride.