There is a lot of talk today in Christian circles about social justice and the emancipation of the oppressed. We preach about the elimination of oppression and the empowerment of the down trodden. All of this seems to me to be a good thing and in keeping with the message of the Gospel, and yet I can’t help but wonder if we are sometimes so focused on the liberation of others, that we forget that often it is we who need liberating ourselves.
Jesus had an interesting take on the whole concept of emancipation. He seemed to speak more about becoming a servant than he did about trying to free oneself from being one. We put a huge emphasis on equality, on giving people back their rights and re-establishing their status in the attempt to make all men equal. But Jesus take was almost the reverse. He was effectively saying, “what if we all gave up our rights.? What if we all became slaves.? What if we all became willing to serve.? What if we all became dispossessed of our rights and power.? What if we all became indebted to one another.? Surely if we all became slaves, then would not all men be be equal.?
We focus on giving ourselves rights. Jesus focused on giving up his rights.We focus on having power. Jesus focused on letting go of power.We focus on stepping up. Jesus focused on stepping down.
Now don’t misunderstand me, I am not suggesting that we all become poverty stricken and put ourselves into positions where we are mercilessly oppressed by others. But I just can’t help but wonder if that in all of our worthy endeavours to “set the captives free”, that we often fail to realise that sometimes it is we who need liberating ourselves, and that by shifting our focus to that of becoming the servant, and by shifting our emphasis to that of one who is willing to let go of our right to power, that we might then not only be more effective at liberating others, but that we would also know the freedom of being liberated ourselves. And that we would begin to see as Jesus did, that there is a liberty to be found in stooping down, that is not always found by stepping up. And that sometimes the way to bring about equality is not in pulling others up to sit alongside us in our position of pride and power. But by stooping down ourselves, and sharing our abundance with the spirit of a servant, amongst those who often already have a better understanding of Jesus concept of freedom than we do ourselves. And in doing so, we just might find that we have brought about a little more of the kind of equality that Jesus was looking for.
John 13
Jesus rose up from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. He poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was sat down again, he said to them, Do you know what I have done for you?
You call me Master and Lord: and you speak correctly; for this is exactly who I am.
So if I then, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; then you also should wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, and you should do the same as I have done to you.
