LEARNING HUMILITY

John 13:1-5

 ¹ It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

 ² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus knew the time had come for him to die.  He was leaving this world and going to his Father.  Isn’t it interesting how John refers to death?  Very simply.  He was leaving this world and going to God.  We make such a big deal about death.  As Christians we should see our death as a simple passing out of this world of sin and pain and suffering and into the presence of God.

John introduces the footwashing ceremony by saying that Jesus was about to show his disciples the full extent of his love.  Is he referring to Jesus’ pending death or to his self-humiliation in the footwashing?  The two are really the same.  The footwashing was a picture of the humiliation of the cross.

In verse two John observes that Satan had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus.  So as Jesus was preparing to wash his disciples’ feet, Judas was preparing to betray Jesus.

Now here is the really powerful statement in verse three:  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power…  Notice carefully, God had given Jesus power over all things!  From this point on, through even the crucifixion, Jesus was in control of all things!

Here is what we have to see:  All power and authority is given to Jesus.  So what does he do with it?  He took off his clothing, wrapped himself in a towel, and began to wash his disciples’ feet!  Jesus’ use of power and authority is so different from ours!  We tend to wield power like a club and dominate in order to get our own way.  Jesus humbles himself and serves!  As his followers we need to learn this important principle!