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The Grab a Towel mandate: apprenticing to Jesus.

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The foreman screamed across the shop floor… “Tucker… what the ******* are you doing – you’ll lose a finger”. I immediately realised how stupid I was being… seeking to clear metal shards from the rotating drill with my hand. My safety report that week was somewhat humiliating. Being an apprentice on the shop floor had its ups and downs. This was definitely a low point! But I believe in the principle of apprenticing – I don’t think there’s anything quite like on-the-job training.

Earlier this year I posted a blog called Developing Christ-like Character, a fundamental priority for servant leaders. In the post, I included quotes from the late Dallas Willard’s book, Renovation of the Heart.

Since then I’ve been reading another of Willard’s classics, The Divine Conspiracy. As I’ve been reflecting on what he writes, I believe that his book effectively emphasises what I’m trying to accomplish through this blog. Willard outlines what it means to become an apprentice of Jesus.

This blog grew out of the book, Grab a Towel, which focuses on Christ-centred servant leadership. But the more I’ve thought, written, and engaged with people, I’ve recognised that the example Jesus set in grabbing a towel and washing the disciples’ feet, provides a more comprehensive metaphor of what it means to be a Christ-follower. The call is to become his apprentices – constantly and consistently learning from him as he takes us on a lifelong journey of on-the-job training. After-all, at the end of the account in John’s gospel he says:

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (John 13:15).

By grabbing a towel and washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus showed that following him is about our attitude and our actions, rather than religious duties. And Christ’s motivation was love: out of love he obeyed his father and out of love he served the disciples. This defined his lifestyle. Willard helpfully sums up what I believe grab a towel is all about:

He does not call us to do what he did, but to be as he was, permeated with love. Then the doing of what he did and said becomes the natural expression of who we are in him. (Willard 2009:204).

When I originally wrote the course material which became the book, my tagline for Grab a Towel was, becoming Christ-centred servant leaders. The emphasis is that when we become a Christian it is the start of a long process – an apprenticeship – in which we need to unlearn our old habits and behaviours as we are transformed to become like Jesus. We learn to clothe ourselves in Jesus (Romans 13:14). The challenge is that, when we become Christians, we are called to take on more than his name, but also his character.

We have a new baby in our house and I get tremendous joy out of pulling faces and seeing her try to copy what I do… sticking my tongue out or blowing kisses. That is the appropriate behaviour for a baby. Jesus’ plan for us is not to behave like babies. As his apprentices, he is leading us on a journey of maturity. The point is, we are not called to superficially copy or mimic Jesus. The Christian life is not about following external rites and rituals that emulate the specific activities of Jesus. No, the journey is one of discipleship. It is not copying his life. It is having his life imbibe ours. Willard again succinctly describes it as follows:

“I am learning from Jesus to live my life as he would live my life if he were I” (Willard 2009:310).

Having this approach will impact how we read Scripture itself. I love the distinction that Willard brings:

We have Bibles with red letters to indicate what he said. Might we not make a good use of  a Bible that has green letters for what he did? Green for ‘go,’ or ‘do it’? (Willard 2009:385).

Grab a Towel is about highlighting what would be the green letters of the bible… the one’s that show us how to just do it (to coin a phrase). I believe that Jesus is not concerned about our doctrine if it doesn’t make any difference to how we live. Willard points out that head knowledge does not necessarily change behaviour. But we will truly know what someone believes by how it impacts the way they live.

This pathway of being Christ’s apprentices is not only counter-cultural to the world, it can also seem counter-cultural to the church. Reflecting primarily on the West, Willard describes consumer Christianity as normative… what a scary thought! This is how he describes it,

The consumer Christian is one who utilises the grace of God for forgiveness and the services of the church for special occasions, but does not give his or her life and innermost thoughts, feelings, and intentions over to the kingdom of the heavens. Such Christians are not inwardly transformed and not committed to it. (Willard 2009:374).

Through this blog and the resources on this site, I want to present a way of following Jesus that is the antithesis to the prevailing consumerism that we see in the church. It involves immersing ourselves into the life and example of Jesus and allowing him to transform our perspective, attitude and behaviour from the inside out. If some of us can get to grips with this vision, then, as we grab a towel and follow Christ’s example, we may perhaps start a ripple effect of discipleship that could radically impact other people… this is surely the ultimate act of service. And I want to challenge you that this is not only necessary if we want to leave a mark for Jesus in this generation, it is also the true pathway to joy.

You lead people to become disciples of Jesus by ravishing them with a vision of life in the kingdom of the heavens and in the fellowship of Jesus… you do this by proclaiming, manifesting, and teaching the kingdom to them in the manner learned from Jesus himself. You thereby change the belief system that governs their lives. (Willard 2009:334).

Grab a Towel means we are committed to standing out from the crowd and going against the flow. It’s not easy to be counter-cultural, but it is necessary if we are to faithfully represent the Gospel in the 21st century. Willard’s challenge to become apprentices is a critical clarion call to all would-be Christ-followers. After all, Jesus himself said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17).

Getting off the Treadmill

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2020 is drawing to a close. I can hear that collective sigh of relief.

In some ways, it feels like we’ve blinked and it’s gone. In other ways, it seems like it’s been the slowest year ever. What is certain, it’s been a year like no other as we’ve had to face challenges the like of which our generation has not experienced before. Many have stated that it’s been a kind of forced sabbatical, an opportunity for a reset. However, it’s also been in the context of much suffering in the face of a deadly enemy (please click here for more information on my book Facing the Future we Didn’t Choose).

Having said that – navigating crises are a part of life. Perhaps the scale of the Covid-19 crisis is unique but some of what I’ve faced this year has felt strangely familiar. In fact, I was going through some old articles I’ve written and stumbled upon one from six years ago. It was a time when I was between jobs and had taken an unanticipated sabbatical. I feel that some of the lessons I learned then are relevant for us now and perhaps you will be able to relate to them. Or, at least, it will encourage you to take time and reflect on what God might be teaching you through this past year.

August 2013

I could not have anticipated the events of this year but I can anticipate that God is always in control because no matter what scrapes I get myself into, He always comes through for me. What follows is a summary of my personal journey as God has been speaking to me throughout this year (2013).

The context for this post is a word someone gave me: that God was going to take me off the treadmill and into a spacious place. This place wouldn’t be just about survival but would be a place where I (and my family) would thrive. At the time I hadn’t realised how much I’d been feeling like Elijah who ran to Mount Horeb (see 1 Kings 19) – and God’s remedy for me was the same as for Elijah… “take a break, Tim”.


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Let’s face it, treadmills are pretty horrible things (in my opinion). All that huff and puff without getting anywhere. It doesn’t matter how fast you run, you always stay at the same place. All the perspiration with very little satisfaction. I believe running shoes are made for the open road… the beach… or on the hills where all of our senses are engaged in the pursuit of health and fitness. Our souls thrive in spacious places. I needed to recover that sense of joy and hope which required getting off the treadmill and finding space to once more breathe the fresh air. To engage all my senses. And to be revived.

This is the biblical principle of sabbatical (or Sabbath). It is a principle that leaders need to hold dearly to so that their followers can also imbibe healthy practices. Sabbatical helps counter the rat-race – the hamster wheel – and the treadmill (choose your preferred metaphor). Because sabbatical is about rest. And God rested. If it was good enough for Him then perhaps it’s good enough for me. But I’m not going to get hung up on whether it should be a day a week or a year every seven. It’s not about religious duty. The primary point is that God has designed us to be at our best when we have balance in our lives. And that balance must include time to rest. [my two favourite books on this topic are The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer or Sacred Pauses by April Yamasaki].

There are three lessons about sabbatical that God has continually re-enforced to me over the past few months.

The first is that sabbatical has to be about his presence. It is about regaining our first love and just enjoying chilling out with our Father. Psalm 62:1-2 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; my fortress, I shall never be shaken.” Psalm 63:1 “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you. My body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” The Psalms are a great place to reside if you need to be refreshed in God’s presence.

The second is about gaining a fresh perspective. From a position of rest, we can have our priorities realigned. The things that previously seemed so important, dissipate. And the things we’ve been ignoring can come to the fore. These verses from Isaiah 30 were key for me:

  • “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…”

  • “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him…”

  • “Although the LORD gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

And, thirdly, it’s about being reminded of who the source of our provision is. Taking time out in God’s presence and getting His perspective is the best way to remember that He is the provider of everything we need… not the other way round. In fact, when we begin to think that the success of the kingdom of God depends upon our superhuman effort, then we’re on a fast-track to spiritual bankruptcy and physical exhaustion. The closing verses of Isaiah 40 is a lifeline for those of us who have this tendency:

“Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch breath. And he knows everything inside and out. He energises those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t faint.”

As I’ve read the bible through this lens I’ve found the scriptures replete with promises that, as I wait on him, I’ll be refreshed, revived and restored. There are many passages I could point you to… but I’ll just record these phenomenal words of Jesus:

I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows the Son except the Father, and no-one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:25-30.

After reading these words of Christ in April 2013, I recorded the following prayer in my journal:

“Lord Jesus I come to you as someone who has been weary and burdened. I give you my exhaustion which comes about through operating in my own strength. I lay down my burdens which are idols in your sight – the things I needlessly carry that cause stress and anxiety. My exhaustion comes from my sinfulness… when I focus my faith on the things I do for you rather than on our relationship… when I ‘do’ rather than ‘be’. Forgive me for my pride and my idolatry. My burden becomes heavy when I lose perspective and take responsibility for your mission – your work – your success. And my pride is fed when I take your glory – usurping what belongs to you… a burden I cannot carry because I am sinful. Jesus, I take on your yoke… so I can be directed by you into righteousness. And I ask that you will teach me in your gentle and humble way so that I will find rest for my soul and operate continually from that peaceful dependence upon you.”

November 2020

This year, we’ve metaphorically (and literally) had to get off the treadmill of what seems normal to us. In the midst of the anguish and challenges of this year, I encourage you to take time to see God’s presence, to seek to attain his perspective, and to thank Him for his provision.

As this testing year draws to a close, let’s follow the example of Dutch Sheets who wrote:

I stepped off that treadmill and into the presence of the Lord. I stopped walking and started waiting… We must wait in His presence and allow all ministry, including our [spiritual] warfare, to be born of relationship”