Carrying Sandles

30 Days with Jesus

Day 3 - Matthew 3 v 1 - 4 v11

I baptise you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. v 11


John the baptist was a truly great man, that was how Jesus summed him up.

In Bible times when a guest arrived in a house the first thing that would happen is that his shoes would be removed, taken away and his feet washed of all the dust and grime. This task was always given to the lowest servant.

The Jewish Talmud describes it like this:


"What is the manner of possessing of servants? or what is their service? He buckles his (master's) shoes; he "unlooses his shoes", and "carries them before him to the bath."''

It goes on to describe the role of a Disciple to a teacher or master:

"All services which a servant does for his master, a disciple does for his master, , "except unloosing his shoes".'

John shows the utmost respect, humility & reverence in that not only did he feel worth to be a Disciple. But by saying what he did he placed himself in relation to Jesus as not even worthy to be the lowest servant.

I don't believe that is a picture of how bad John was. Jesus had already said that John was the greatest man that had ever lived. It is a picture of how truly great and majestic Jesus is.

So the picture at the end of his earthly ministry of Him removing His disciples sandals and washing their feet is all the more amazing. The saviour, master & teacher now taking on the position of the lowest servant for people privileged to be called His disciples.