Servanthood and the Upside-Down Power of the Cross

I was in high school when I visited my friend’s Korean church. We went down to the basement, where an older man with thick, goggle-like glasses, disheveled hair, and a big smile was sweeping the floor. I assumed he was the custodian. Following our Asian custom, we bowed respectfully and greeted him. My friend said gleefully, “This is Reverend Lee!” I was stunned. Until that moment, I had never met a Senior Pastor in a Korean church who swept the floor. In Asian culture, elders and people of honor are highly esteemed—Senior Pastors are often treated with near-royal respect. That moment left a lasting impression on me. Seven years later, I was hired as the youth pastor of that same church under Reverend Lee. There’s a major principle that many in both the church and secular society overlook about Christianity: Jesus explicitly calls us to humility and servanthood, especially for those in positions of authority. The saying “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” could be reframed as “the bigger they are, the lower they should go—so the fall isn’t as hard.” One of the most common reasons people cite for not attending church is distrust of leadership. As a leader who has failed often, I understand that disappointment. But if church leaders modeled Christ’s servanthood and genuine humility, how many could have been spared from the pain and disillusionment caused by the abuse of power? Reverend Lee became a mentor to me, and I later had the honor of officiating his daughter’s wedding to one of my most faithful youth teachers. While many of my seminary colleagues vented about domineering pastors who made their ministry miserable, I realized how deeply Reverend Lee had shaped me through his quiet, Christlike example. Bill Hybels once wrote, “Like Christ, we must descend—into self-abandonment, unconditional giving, sacrifice, and death to self. And, like Christ, we will then ascend—into fulfillment, blessing, joy, and purpose.” The way up in sanctification is down—to become the servant of all. As a Senior Pastor today, I know that God used Reverend Lee to form my vision of what following Christ truly looks like. The upside-down power of the cross reveals that true strength does not come from a scepter or crown, but from the towel that washes feet. Jesus said in John 13:15, right after washing His disciples’ feet, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Can you imagine what the world would look like if all of us in the body of Christ lived as though greatness is found in humble service to God and to others? I continually pray for that heart in me and in all of us. Blessings to you, my friends, Pastor Jason Ko