A Towel and a Basin
We live in a world that benefits those in power. The saying is that the rich get richer and the poor somehow get poorer. The same can be said of power. The mighty seem to become mightier while those not in power become more insignificant.
And, sadly, all too often this next statement is true as well – “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This quote comes from the 19th century British politician Lord Acton who wrote a series of letters to Mandell Creighton, a bishop in the Church of England. In looking at the Inquisition, Bishop Creighton felt that there seemed to be a tendency to be unnecessarily critical of authority figures, thus he leaned toward “going easy” when writing about the corruption and abuse of power of past popes. Lord Action disagreed vehemently. He believed that all men, regardless of status, should be judged using the same morals standards, especially in light of the reality that power tends to corrupt.
The sinful nature that every one of us is born with, gotten from our first parents, way back in the garden, arcs toward self-centeredness. In my opinion, it is this self-centeredness that pushes us toward wanting to be superior to others. In a dog eat dog world, you either eat or get eaten. Yet, there is a very different way!
Kings in the ancient Middle East, and many kings and leaders today, have absolute power, ultimate authority. Often large and in charge, with little or no concern for those under their authority. Absolute power. Before you write this idea off as only being for those in high places, allow me to say that the most people have some authority, some level of power, over at least one other person. Parents have authority over their children. Bosses have authority over those who work for them. Teachers guide students. Coaches lead athletes. Pastors serve churches. Neighborhood bully knocks around the scrawny little kid. Political party that holds a majority. Community leaders. Business owners. The list goes on.
All of us, whether we acknowledge it or not, in one way or another, are susceptible to “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It is in our DNA. Yet, there is a very different way!
Regardless of our position in life, we are called to lead, serve, and follow, in a way that is right and just, walked out in a posture of humility. In the Old Testament, Micah, the first prophet to predict Jerusalem’s downfall, answers the question of what should we bring to the LORD (Micah 6:6-7) in a somewhat surprising way – “No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8).
We are called to model the service and humility of Jesus. Mark 10:45 tells us this – “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, to give his life as a ransom for many.” And in Philippians, the apostle Paul writes – “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (2:8).
Whereas world leaders are often high and mighty, Jesus is low and humble. He is a different kiond of king. What kind of king gets down on his knees and washes feet? Who does that anyway? Does absolute power corrupts absolutely grab a towel and a basin?
I will ask again: who does that? Only one does – King Jesus. The One who came to serve the world. And He calls his followers to do the same.
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