The Humility of Christ

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:5 ESV
 
The day before Christ would go to the cross and die, He did something far beneath Him. When Jesus and His twelve disciples gathered in the upper room to celebrate the Passover meal, it was just them present. There was no servant there to wash their feet. None of the disciples volunteered to take that role and were satisfied to just have stinky, dirty feet. This was not just a servant’s job; it was usually reserved for the lowest servant. No one wanted this job. However, Jesus gets up to do this job. 
 
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones of dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 ESV
 
Jesus is the Eternal Son of God. He is the creator of heaven and earth. He establishes thrones and dominions. He holds all things together. Yet He gets up, kneels, and does the work of a servant. In Luke’s gospel he tells us that during the Passover supper the disciples get in an argument over which one was the greatest. No wonder not even one of them thinks they should do the job of washing feet. 
 
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” John 13:6-9 ESV
 
Was Peter confused? Absolutely! Jesus’ response to Peter that “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” shows us that Jesus washing their feet had a greater meaning. By Jesus doing the job of a servant and washing the disciple’s feet He was humbling himself. The next day Jesus will humble Himself even more so. The Son of God will be mocked, spat upon, beaten, and killed. With His own blood He will wash not feet but souls. 
 
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11 ESV
 
As Christians we are called to humility. The Eternal Son of God took on flesh. He humbled Himself as to become human. The Creator of the Universe came down to our level for what reason? To be beaten, mocked, and brutally killed and by doing be a sacrifice for our sin. God served man. As Christians we are to see Christ’s humble act of servanthood as an example to how we are to live our lives.  The best way we can be humble and serve others is by sacrificing our time, energy, money, and effort to share the gospel with the world around us. 
 
As we enter the Easter weekend pray now and prepare now to share the gospel this weekend! To share the gospel, it will take time it may inconvenience your plans even. But count others more important than yourself. Count other’s eternal souls as more important than your plans. Count the glory of God through the spreading of the gospel more important than yourself!