“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God: so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel round 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 13:3-5)
Jesus was performing the duty of a slave or ‘doulos’. One of my Lecturers in ancient Greek, years ago, gave us a handy hit for remembering the word ‘doulos’, meaning slave. She said “remember slaves do lots”. They were the lowest of lowest slaves responsible to one Lord and master. In fact, the Greeks and Jews in Jesus day considered the word an insult. A ‘doulos’ (slave) did the worst jobs, jobs others pushed onto them. So when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, he was performing the work of a doulos, the lowest slave in the household. Jesus used this event to teach his disciples one last lesson before he went to the cross. He impressed on them the important lesson of living a doulos life.
Today Bible translators use the word “servant” instead of “slave”, it softens the meaning, almost giving it a respectable feel, but in Jesus day it was a harsh strong term identifying a ‘doulos’ as the least respected member of society, someone at the bottom of the social pecking order. Jesus teaches us this shocking truth with the wiping of a towel across dirty feet, but this act should not have surprised the disciples, he repeatedly used the word ‘doulos’ mentioning it more than seventy times in his teachings. It was major teaching point not a minor one.
Today, false prophets have us naming it and claiming it, telling us we deserve material blessing as children of the king, encouraging us to believe in success and prosperity. They are silent about matters of social justice and go on to value luxurious living and self-esteem. They tell us we are adopted children of the highest God, but they fail to relay Jesus’ words that we are also ‘doulos’ slaves to Christ.
We are ,in fact, royal heirs who belong to the family of the most High but we are also slaves in exile in a world at war with God. The false prophets want us to accept ‘worldliness’ to seek worldly success in money, fame and position. It might be helpful to remember Jesus’ third temptation:
“Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. All this I will give you, “he said if you will bow down and worship me” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” (Matthew 4:8-10)
The success and prosperity of this world according to Matthew’s gospel comes from the devil. “The kingdoms of the world and their splendour” comes under the authority of Satan, by deceiving mankind, he manipulates and controls markets and even holds sway over governments. The scripture even goes as far as pointing out that worldly prosperity comes from false worship.
The false prophets encourage us to lust after worldly success disguised as Godly prosperity; telling us mammon is not so bad, being proud, superior and self confident is good. They encourage social recognition and grandstand in the spot light; they sell the gospel like snake oil. But above all, they want the look of worldly success, and they will do anything to avoid looking like or being a ‘doulos’ We are princes and princess in rags, told by Jesus to love, care and bless the poor and call the rich to repentance. Tony Campolo gives us great insight about a Christian’s relationship to the world, when he said:
“In reality, Babylon, as described in the book of Revelation, refers to any societal system in which Christians dwell as they struggle to live out their faith. For those in modern-day England, Babylon is English cultural system. For Christians in America, Babylon is American culture, and for those in Australia, their Babylon is the culture and economic system that stands over and against those Christians who constitute the new community of faith established by the Omega man, who is Jesus.” (Tony Campolo, Forward for Sharpening the cutting Edge, John Smith)
Jesus taught us to be “doulos” He never called us to be worldly kings, barons of the stock market, rock gods or sports super stars. Jesus never taught us how to get rich, but he did tell us to sell what we have and give to the poor. He never taught us how to look like a super model but he did tell us not to become white washed tombs full of dead bones. He never showed us how to be famous, but he told us the greatest in the kingdom of God would be least of all. They will be doulos!!!
“Whoever wants to be first must be your slave (doulos) just as the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27-28)
My friends, if you are at peace with this world then you are at war with God!
