George Sleiman

In a 2018 BBC interview with Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen spoke extensively about the monarchy’s royal regalia, valued at around $4 billion according to the International Gems Society. She provided previously unknown insights, showing the public her 400-year-old diamond-encrusted crown and speaking about how it felt on her head. She described the quality of the ride in the golden carriage, the orb representing the sovereign’s religious and moral authority, her ring that represents her life-long commitment to the kingdom, and most importantly, her scepter that embodies her power and rule over people and land.

Rulers throughout centuries held different items representative of their reign. Ancient Egyptians used the face of the cobra on their double crown as their sign of rulership. The Mayan and Aztec royal families used feathers and eagles to assert their power. Thrones, sashes, robes, swords, and jewels were, and still are, representations of human authority over humans and territories.

In a series of articles about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples titled “The King Who Led with a Towel,” Sessoms and Buckland (2010) discussed the “regalia” that represented Jesus’ kingship and authority. There are many items the Lord could have displayed in this inventory of His eternal lordship: countless crowns, scepters of righteousness, kingly gowns, hosts of angels, thrones of glory, and a myriad of His creation bowing before Him; yet it was a towel that He held as He concluded His earthly ministry (John 13:4). Looking back at Jesus on that night in John 13:1-17, the regalia that adorned Him was a towel that He wrapped around Himself to use in washing the feet of those who were with Him. Darrell Johnson (2010) called that very towel a “scepter”; it was the rod Jesus willingly utilized to proclaim His position.

Regalia reflects leadership styles through clothing. Some rulers wear tailored suits for political savvy, while others choose traditional garments for nationalism. In theocracies, religious clothing signifies divine representation, and military uniforms wielding weapons highlight authoritarian rule. What does Jesus’ regalia tell about His leadership? This towel shows that His reign was that of service; the King who serves His subjects—the Servant Leader.

The Towel in His Hands

This regal scepter He yielded was not to coerce or control. He did not use it to flaunt His seat or demand respect and adoration. Through this towel, He fulfilled His duties to His Kingdom and His subjects and was an example to them and us.

The passage in John 13 lists what Jesus knew before washing the disciples’ feet. Jesus knew that He was soon headed to the cross and would later be ascending to the Father (John 13:1). He knew that Judas would betray Him (vv. 2, 11). He knew that the Father had handed everything to Him (v. 3). With this knowledge, He took His towel and wrapped it around Himself. He knew His death was but a few hours away and that He soon was departing; yet He took His towel to clean His disciples’ feet. He knew that one of them had planned His betrayal, another would deny Him, and the rest would flee; nevertheless, He took His towel to clean their feet. He knew He had authority over everything, and all was His; still, He took His towel to clean their feet.

Jesus did not display an image of a servant; He became a servant and the lowest of servants. The disciples must have known that their feet were dirty, and they must have smelled the problem too. It was customary during a formal meal such as this that the guests’ feet be washed thoroughly by the lowest servant in the house. None took the initiative; no one wanted to be that servant. It is especially evident in Luke 22:24 that their minds were concerned with whom of them “was regarded as being the greatest.”

He did not ask one of His disciples to fill the basin with water to dampen the towel and give the feet of the disciples a quick wipe down. He did everything Himself to serve them completely. He did not delegate this lowly service—He did this service Himself. He took the initiative as He got up from supper; He prepared Himself as He took off His garment; He prepared what was needed for this ministry as He filled the basin and wrapped the towel; He reached the hearts, not just the physical needs when He spoke with Peter and served Judas; He knew when to rest as He took His garment back and sat down again. In such details, He was our example.

The Towel in Our Hands

Kings of old and rulers of today hand down their scepters to their successors. Christ handed down His to us, His heirs (Rom 8:17). This act of succession happened as Jesus wiped the feet of His disciples with that towel and later said: “For I gave you an example so that you also would do just as I did for you” (John 13:15). We carry this “scepter”!

Now that He has bestowed His towel to us, how do we continue doing the Kingdom’s work?

Our audience is just as diverse as His. We have among those we are called to serve: the doubters, the deniers, the betrayers, the unfaithful, the zealots, the fiery, the self-centered, the attention-seekers, and the proud. We have those who will go back to their old selves when we are not around to uphold them, those who will scatter and leave us when times are difficult, and those who are unable to stay up with and encourage us when our souls are “deeply grieved, to the point of death” (Matt 26:38). Will we carry our “towel” and follow Christ’s example and serve them?

With this towel, we share His responsibilities. In our “upper room”, in war-torn Lebanon for example, we see dirty feet. Do we get up from supper, our place of comfort and abundance, to serve those who fled, are broken, and are in need? As bearers of this “scepter”, we ought to be prepared ourselves—laying our garments aside, freely washing, drying, and getting our hands muddied. Similarly, our responsibility as inheritors is to prepare the tools needed for our service. As we serve, we need to touch people’s innermost being. Some will accept, some will protest, and for some, our service might never reach their heart, but at least it reaches their feet and mirrors the heart of Jesus (John 13:16). As we yield the towel, we must also learn when to complete our service and rest, sitting at the Lord’s Supper again and being filled once more.

The Call

There is a call amidst our current situation here in Lebanon for “towel-bearers”. Our lands are swiped with a thick dust storm that hides the very sunlight from shining through; dust from missiles, smoke, and ash filling the air. People’s feet are thus dirtied, and their hearts are weary. Their personalities, backgrounds, and responses are not particularly adaptable to our own, nor to our expectations; yet as heirs of Christ, we hold His scepter.

Let us use the towel and apply it here and now. We are presented with a situation where people desperately need our service. How do we apply Christ’s towel? It starts with love in our hearts towards those who left their homes, lost their houses, let go of their memories, and laid loved ones to rest. Jesus loved His disciples before taking His towel and serving them: “… having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (v. 1). We wield this towel with love. When we love those directly affected by the war, we welcome them. When we love them, we give them time and listen to their hearts. When we love them, we encourage them. When we love them, we share with them what the Lord has given us.

Jesus calls His people to follow Him, to go where He goes, and to do what He does. He is calling us to pick up our towels and follow Him.

George Sleiman is a teacher at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the head of the Finlay Graham Library and Research Center and the facilitator of the Micro-credentials Program at the seminary.