Humility

 

His humility     13v4-7   It was in this frame of mind, with His eye firmly fixed on the glory to which He was going, that He performed this act of deepest humility.   

“He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel and girded Himself.  After that, He poureth water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.  Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter said unto Him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?  Jesus answered and said to him what I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.”

It is fitting here that we trace the incomparable humility of Jesus.  For one so high to stoop so low, is nothing short of breathtaking.  We must understand the background here:  the laying aside of outer garments, the girding with the towel, and the pouring of water into the basin, is the posture of the menial servant.  Indeed, it is the lowest form of service, for in a rich Jewish household there were four classes of servant in  descending order.  There was the servant who administered the household on behalf of the master; then the servant who tended to the needs of the mistress of the house; thirdly there was the servant who looked after the children; fourthly, and finally, and lowest of all, there was the servant who received the visitors and washed their feet from the dust of their travels, and tended to their animals.  Indeed, it was thought that this most menial of all tasks of all that is classed as servitude was reserved for non-Jews, if available, for it was considered to be the lowest of the low.  This is the position the majesty of all heaven took before His disciples, not just the low place, but the lowest, most menial task.  Then again we consider the objects of this servitude.  There was Judas who was about to betray Him; and Simon Peter who will deny Him in public; and all of them who would in the crucial moment forsake Him and flee.  Cast your mind back to the times in His public ministry, when He told them of His sufferings-as in Matthew 16v21, 17v22-23; Mark 10v32-34; Luke 9v21-22.  As He spelt out the extent of His sufferings all these men could think about and argue amongst themselves was “Who will be the greatest?” when He is gone.  To these proud, narcissistic men, Jesus humbled Himself to wash their feet!!  He took their feet into His hands, the same hands into which the Father had placed everything, the governance of the universe.  Such humility, as has never been seen, nor will be again.  Most of them sat in stunned silence until Peter the most forward amongst them questioned Him, are you really going to wash my feet Lord?  Jesus said he would explain later, but Peter interjected in real shock…thou  shalt never wash my feet!  Jesus replied, If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me.   This is a general principle by Jesus in reply, He said if I wash thee not, in the sense of overall cleansing, you have no part with me!  Don’t be too surprised Peter, I am the one who cleanses people fit for fellowship with God.  In typical, impetuous style Peter replies, “Not my feet only but also my hands and my head.”  He goes from one extreme to another, begging to be to washed all over.  Jesus now turns to the specifics.  Having established that fellowship with God requires cleansing by God, He responds by making one of the most profound statements in all of scripture.