His Example
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. John 13:14
Consider the humility of Jesus. He is God, coming into the world in a flesh and blood body like ours. He is all present, all knowing and all powerful. He created all things and through Him all things were made. Yet His love for His created people was greater than all of that. So much so that He was willing to be born into this world as a baby and grow up and walk out a life similar to what we all do. The God, Who is above all, came low to be part of what He created. Philippians 2:8 says: Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. The cross of course was the ultimate in humility. He took on all the sin, shame and guilt of the world. All the sickness and disease before and after was placed on Him. This ultimate sacrifice was worth it all to Him to get His family back from His enemy.
In today’s reading, Jesus was spending His last hours in the world with His disciples and closest friends. He spent His remaining moments teaching them some of the most important lessons that He taught while on the earth. When they had all finished His last supper, He got up from the group and then got low. He kneeled down and began to wash the feet of all those there with Him. As if going to the cross was not enough to show how much He loved them, He first took this special individual time with each one of His men and carefully and deliberately washed their feet. In their culture, this was one of the lowest jobs in the home and usually done by a servant or youth. But Jesus demonstrated the importance of humility and caring for others on an individual level in this low and simple act. He told the disciples that they wouldn’t understand what He was doing right now. Then when He finished, He explained to them that if as their teacher and Lord was willing to humble Himself to tend to the needs of others, they should do the same thing for each other when He was gone. He finished this teaching by saying the person that is sent is not greater than the one who sent them. He wanted them to understand that even though they had been with Jesus during His time here, they were not superior to the world that they were going to reach. He was telling them to stay humble even though He was going to be leaving them in charge.
I know most of us have heard this account at the last supper before and probably even heard very good sermons on it, but I want to ask today: How does this apply to each one of us? I can see three applications that we can put into action in our lives. They are:
- Keep your heart in a constant position of humility. When you find yourself becoming irritated or stressed in life, recognize that you are getting close to pride and confess it and get rid of it. Follow Jesus example of taking care of others and let that be your first thought when the tension rises.
- Put others’ needs above your own. I know that we live in a society that is focused on self-care and taking care of #1 first and I am not saying that we should neglect self. I am simply saying humble yourself and be aware that there are people in your every day that God has placed there for you to be caring for. Don’t walk by and ignore the opportunities you have to love one another. Your life will never be complete and fulfilled if you only fill it up with selfishness.
- Lastly, don’t ever think of yourself above others. Even if you hold a position in authority of some kind, you are still a servant to all. Lead in such a way that you are living an example like Jesus did of love and humility. Showing those around you that your position was given to you to reach more of the world for the Kingdom.
Today I want to encourage you to walk in humility. Put others first, look for opportunities to serve and love all people around you. Follow Jesus example and never think that you have come to where you are in life so that others can serve you. Keep the heart and mind set that you have been sent here to bring more of the people around you to your loving heavenly Father and when you do, you will live out the very purpose for which you were given breath in the first place.
Today’s scripture reading: John 12:1-17
1 Jesus knew that the night before Passover would be his last night on earth before leaving this world to return to the Father’s side. All throughout his time with his disciples, Jesus had demonstrated a deep and tender love for them. And now he longed to show them the full measure of his love.
2 Before their evening meal had begun, the accuser had already deeply embedded betrayal into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
3 Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him.
4 So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist.
5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel.
6 But when Jesus got to Simon Peter, he objected and said, “I can’t let you wash my dirty feet—you’re my Lord!”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.”
8 Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!” “But Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with me.”
9 So Peter said, “Lord, in that case, don’t just wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!”
10 Jesus said to him, “You are already clean. You’ve been washed completely and you just need your feet to be cleansed—but that can’t be said of all of you.” For Jesus knew which one was about to betray him,
11 and that’s why he told them that not all of them were clean.
12 After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I just did?” Jesus said.
13 “You’ve called me your teacher and lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am.
14-15 So if I’m your teacher and lord and have just washed your dirty feet, then you should follow the example that I’ve set for you and wash one another’s dirty feet. Now do for each other what I have just done for you.
16 I speak to you timeless truth: a servant is not superior to his master, and an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him.
17 So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!”
The Daily Dose 