For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 14:11
Humility is one of the many lessons to learn from the night that Jesus, the King of Kings washed the feet of his disciples. Following on from the Passover meal, the second unforgettable event that took place during the Passover is Jesus washing of the disciples feet. Keep reading to find out why this was so important and what it means to us today as followers of Jesus.
We all want to be important but sometimes we think so highly of ourselves than we ought to and dishonour people who deserves to be honoured.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Romans 12:3
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Romans 13:7
The word of God is a lamp onto our feet and a light onto our path. Through the word of God, Jesus transforms our walk from being worldly to being heavenly, from being carnal to being spiritual, because walking in the flesh leads to dead but walking in the spirit leads to life everlasting.
While reclining at the table after the Lord’s super, the disciples began to argue about who was the most important person among them. By this question they wanted Jesus to put them in a hierarchy of importance so that the one on the top level can demand respect or order people around. Jesus saw their motive and advised them not to behave like the kings of the gentiles or people in authority who rule over others.
Instead, Jesus said the greatest among them should be like the youngest and the leader like a servant. Jesus said he was like a servant among them even though he was the greatest.
Jesus who is God and knows all things knew that he was going to be betrayed that very night and the next day he would be crucified but that did not make him anxious or worried. He wanted his disciples to be different from other people and this question had to be dealt with immediately as it revealed the heart of the disciples. Jesus took advantage of the opportunity to teach his disciples another important lesson. The lesson of being a servant if one desires to be served, demonstrating to us that Jesus will always bring us back into the will of the father through his word when he get wander off.
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:3-5
Why was Jesus washing their feet with water and why at that time, a time where he should be anxious about his pending crucifixion and should be praying? Jesus decided to serve instead of being served even till death.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45
The words of a dying man are very important and so are their actions. Jesus, God in flesh, put aside his greatness, his majesty, his kingship, his glory, his position and everything that makes him God, to kneel down and wash the feet of his followers, a great example of humility. The feet, the most dirty part of a person in those days due to walking long distances on dusty roads, but Jesus washed them, and he is still in the business of washing us clean from any filth so that we can continue to walk in the Spirit.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16
Our walk of faith, this Christian journey is always washed by Jesus and presented to God because our righteousness are like filthy rugs before God, but we are not consumed because of the mercies of God. We might take some detours in life and find ourselves in an unknown or undesirable places but the Holy Spirit our guide reminds us of the word to guide our feet back onto the right path.
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:26-27
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
John 13:12-15
Leadership is about serving not lording our position on those below us. No matter our position at work, in the church, in our homes, in the community etc, we should humble ourselves and serve others instead of wanting to be served. We should not expect others to come and do certain jobs like cleaning the church or arranging chairs or serving food but we should do these jobs and be examples to those who look up to us and in due time God will exalt us and let other serve us too.
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
1 Peter 5:5-6
