John 13:12-19 Humility means putting others before ourselves

So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against ME.’ John 13:12-19

Background

Jesus’ object lesson have put into the disciples that hours of teaching could not. Love is not expressed through words alone but through a selfless act that makes another feel treasured and loved. It necessarily involves the server to lower himself from his high position in love and respect towards the one he serves. Jesus taught us to cherish and respect one another because we are all made in the image of God.

Observation

1.  “Do you know what I have done to you?” The washing of feet symbolizes the act of care and putting the interests of others before our own. By washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus expressed His love and respect towards them. Through this act, Jesus lowered Himself from a Kingly position to acknowledge the value of the person He served. The disciples must have felt unworthy that the King would perform such a menial task that should have been done by a gentile slave. At the same time, they felt highly treasured by God. That night, something have indeed changed in the disciples’ values system and in the way they see themselves.

2.  Jesus admonished His disciples to do the same for one another: “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” In other words, we should cherish and treasure one another as fellow children of God’s family. This value system of mutual respect and love should be expressed through our language and our service towards one another. Thus, Jesus sets the culture of honor giving and affirming one another of our worth and place in the Kingdom.

3.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master,” Jesus reminded His disciples that a slave is not greater than his master, yet the master served the slave. A person’s greatness is measured by his willingness to humble himself to serve all. Peter’s refusal to let Jesus wash his feet spoke of Peter’s value system: the lesser should serve the greater. In fact, quite the opposite: the greater one’s position, the greater one’s responsibility to serve.

4.  Jesus said that the one whom He served had turned around to attack Him: “He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.” In addition to washing Judas’ feet, Jesus had also personally served Judas bread. Through this act, Jesus displayed His mercy towards Judas so that His disciples might learn to love their enemies as well.

Truth

1.  Before we can begin to treasure and respect others, we must first be treasured and served by God. Jesus’ act of washing the disciple’s feet lifted their self-esteem to a divine level as being sons of the most high God. Today, the Spirit of Christ washes your feet by bearing witness in your spirit that you are God’s son. Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” Some who are more sensitive may feel the Spirit physically touching them. The personal touch of the Spirit tells us that we are individually and intimately connected to Christ. The Spirit humbles Himself and gives attention to every need that I may have and heal my wounds. The Spirit treasures me as a prince of the Kingdom speaking words of encouragement and assurance of His presence.

2.  Create a culture of mutual respect acknowledging one another’s value and place in God’s Kingdom. We can do that by being genuinely interested in one another, being respectful of another’s views even though it may be different from ours. By being sensitive to what others are going through and empathizing with their struggles; by acknowledging their strengths and place in the body of Christ we affirm one another of our eternal value.

3.  Humility involves suspending our need for recognition and personal needs while fulfilling others. Jesus personally serves every one of His children caring not for His Kingly position. Philippians 2:3-7 says,

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond- servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”

As Christ Himself has served me, I am filled by His grace, being assured of my identity as God’s son and given a special place in the Kingdom to serve others in like manner.

4.  The one who serves is more blessed than the one being served. Jesus taught that the one who humbles himself and serves others would be blessed: “you are blessed if you do them.” Jesus Himself was exalted and glorified in His resurrection. Philippians 2:8,9 says,

“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name”.

Similarly, God rewards those who do what Jesus did; the reward for humble service is glory and honor.

Application

1.  Take time aside to be ministered and touched by the Holy Spirit. Let Him assure you of your identity and place before God.

2.  Actively seek out and acknowledge one another’s strengths and worth. In doing so, we bring out the best in one another.

3.  Learn to suspend your own needs and be more sensitive to the needs of others. At the same time we must be very wise. Never do for others what they could do for themselves. We must not take over the rightful responsibilities of others; they must learn to take responsibility for themselves! Hence, it takes discernment, les our kindness becomes an enablement for some to be idle. No doubt the disciples ought to wash their own feet. But what Jesus wanted to achieve was not to clean the physical dirt off their feet, but to put in them an awareness of their worth and place in God’s Kingdom; as well as to teach them selfless service towards one another.

Dear Lord, use me to speak worth to your children and to lift up those who are weak. Help me be sensitive to the needs of others and use me to speak words of healing. I release my own wounds to You. Bind my wounds I pray and put in me the Your passion for the Kingdom. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.