As our Lord and Teacher, Jesus could be referred to as the Master Teacher. We can learn how to be better teachers by heeding His words in John 13:14-15 to take on the role of a servant.
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. (Jn. 13:14-15)
Jesus, the Master Teacher, Shows Us How to Be a Servant
Notice how John 13:14 begins. Jesus said, “Now that I …” Jesus did more than tell His disciples to be servants. He first showed them, then instructed them. Jesus was able to back up His words with actions already demonstrating how to serve others.
Implication: If you’re a ministry leader and want your teachers to be servants, serve them. Demonstrate how.
Jesus demonstrated servanthood by washing their feet. It wasn’t just an attitude of humility but action. Washing people’s dirty feet would seemingly be below the Lord of lords and King of kings, but He did just that. If anyone had the right to lord it over people, it was Him; yet He served.
Implication: If the Master Teacher served in practical and non-glamourous ways, certainly nothing should be beneath us when it comes to meeting our students’ needs.
More About Jesus’ Role in Serving Those He Taught
Read this series of posts to learn more from Jesus about being a servant teacher:
- Bible Teacher’s Role as Servant
- Servant Teachers Have Christ-like Motivation
- Servant Teachers Have Christ-like Attitudes
- Servant Teachers Have Christ-like Actions
- Servant Teachers Have Christ-like Relational Skills
You can learn even more about being a servant teacher, as described in the above link, in the Bible Teacher’s Role Download. This teacher training resource also looks at seven other roles.