The Unexpected Messiah

Messiah was a term used by the Jews for the expected saviour. They were expecting a saviour for centuries; and whom they expected as their saviour went along with their experience of people who exercised power over them. They expected a priest-messiah, or a prophet-messiah, or a king-messiah. But Jesus was a servant-messiah. John the Baptist had the difficult task of announcing his arrival when he came (John 2: 19-34). The task would have been easy if he had come as a king, a priest or a prophet in the style and form as in the Old Testament. Jesus came as a humble, nonviolent saviour. Matthew 12: 18-20 reaffirms it from Isaiah, here is the one whom I have chosen… He will not argue or shout, nor will his voice be heard in the streets. The bruised reed he will not crush, nor snuff out the smouldering wick.

Washing another's feet

Jesus’ servant-messiahship gave a new meaning to being a priest, being a prophet, being a king/leader; they all are primarily meant to be servants. Being a servant is the highest of honour. Even the greatest born of woman, John the Baptist, is not worthy to stoop down and untie his sandals. But he the Messiah too stoops down (John 13: 1-15) to wash his disciples feet; and proclaimed to them, you call me master and lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another’s feet.

A servant-messiah and a servant-people: that is the paradox. It is placing the other first in our thinking, planning and execution. A practice that puts nobody first or last perpetually. Service comes first.

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