One of Jesus’ most radical acts when in the company of his disciples was to take a towel and wash their feet (John 13:1-17). This was not something that Rabbis would do, it being more the function of a servant or slave. It’s not hard to imagine the state of people’s feet in first century Israel! The act was, of course, a powerful symbol of the fact that He had come to cleanse the world from sin. The greatest way God could bless humanity was by coming as a man and dying for them. As Jesus made clear, there is no greater love or service than the act of someone giving up their life for another (John 15:13-15). This spirit
of service was the attitude at the heart of every first century ministry but took a special focus in the work of a certain group. For in addition to the leadership roles we have already described, the first church benefitted hugely from the support and skill of men and women who were dedicated to performing certain necessary practical, personal, and administrative tasks. The word diakonos(διάκονος), translated as “servant” or “deacon,” denotes these remarkable men and women who served the community, particularly in practical matters. In Acts 6:1–6, seven men were appointed to oversee the daily distribution of food, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and teaching. This became the model for what later developed into the office of deacon. The role of deacons was one of essential service, marked by dignity, faith, and integrity (1 Timothy
3:8–13). Diakonos can also describe broader ministerial service in the church, not just a formal office. Have we chosen the greatest and the humblest role?