Indescribable Humility, Real Love

Jesus loves you – really, loves you. But do you know the true depth of His love? Can you comprehend the incredible humility involved in

God becoming man so that He could take the punishment for our sins, freeing us from punishment we deserve?

John, chapter 13, we read of the humility of Christ at the last supper – just before His ultimate humility upon the cross. God the Father had given all things into Jesus’ hands. But then (verse 4), He got up from the table and laid aside His garments to wash the feet of the disciples. In fact, this is the second time Jesus laid aside His garments – the first is when He left heaven and came to the earth, laying aside the garment of His Glory and His divine rights.

Jesus then took a towel and began washing the disciples’ feet – the job of the lowest slave. The God of the Universe knelt down to wash the feet of sinful men. This is indescribable humility.

Chapter 13 continues, John paints an awesome picture revealing more truths about who we are in Christ and how we are to live as Christians.

In verses 8-10 of John chapter 13, Peter protests because he didn’t understand Jesus stooping down and performing the duty of a slave and washing feet. Peter said: “Nope, Jesus .. don’t do that!”  Jesus responds by saying, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me,” Peter says “Jesus to wash all of me” You see, Peter didn’t need a complete bath, just a foot washing. This scene illustrates a clear distinction between our position in Christ and our practice in Christ.  What do I mean?

Once you are bathed by the Word and blood of Jesus, you are forever clean! Once you are saved and forgiven, sanctified, justified – this is your position in Christ and that position won’t change. However, as you walk though this world, your feet get dirty… daily --(for some, hourly!). From sin, and being in the world, but not of the world. When we sin (we all do) that’s when we need our “feet washed”. We need a daily refreshing and refilling of the Holy Spirit.

Listen: John 13 isn’t a call to scrub feet that don’t need scrubbing or that do need scrubbing. It’s a call to adopt the spirit of foot washing…. What’s that? Humility and service. The same principle applies, if a toilet needs plunging, we’ll plunge them. If a diaper needs changing, then change it, if a church kitchen needs cleaning, clean it. For the disciples of Jesus, no act of service is too low, because we know that the lowest service makes us more like Him.