Humility

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

HUMILITY

John 13:12-20

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 18 "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'   19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." 

NIV

Again we are in the upper room and Jesus and his disciple are just about ready to eat the Pascal meal, in celebration of the Passover. As was the custom of the Jewish people, someone, normally a household servant would wash the feet of any guest either as they entered the house, or more likely prior to reclining at the table for dinner. As there were no household servants present, someone was going to need to carry out this servant role. It would only make sense Jesus would be the one to do that. Again, everything he said and did was a teaching moment. Although some of our post-modern churches today have foot washing services, this is not what Jesus intended. He was not instituting another ordinance of the church such as he did with baptism and communion. Although this foot washing is not a regular celebrated service, Jesus did not intend for us to wash each other’s feet. He was teaching his disciples the principle of humility. This was going to be especially needed in their role as the founding fathers, so to speak, of the church. They were going to be looked up to by many of the new believers. These are the men who lived with Jesus, who walked around with him, who he sent out and they did miraculous things. We immediately think of Peter and John going to the temple and Peter telling the lame beggar that he did not have silver and gold, but as he had, in the name of Jesus stand up and walk. The lame man not only walked,  and he went leaping and jumping praising the Lord. The people were lifting up the disciples and it would have been easy for them to get filled with pride, being puffed up how they were so special. Jesus wanted them to know humility was the key. They were not greater than the Master, or the one who sent them. They needed to remember everything is about Jesus, not about them, and to remain humble. This is the most difficult task of the modern-day pastor, remaining humble. The people in the church have a tendency to lift up their pastor, to look up to him for leadership, as the spiritual authority of the church. He knows more scripture than any of them. He is righteous and upright, living an example for them. How difficult it is to remain humble, to have the servant's heart when everyone looks up to them. This does not mean the pastor should be cleaning the floors or washing everyone’s feet, or whatever else servants or hired hands would do. This is being a servant of Jesus Christ first and foremost, recognizing all authority come from him. This also applies to each member of the church, the body of Christ. We are not to think more highly of ourselves then we should. We should prefer one another over ourselves. This carries the meaning we should not lift up any “one”, but lift up everyone. Just as the members of our physical body serve all the other members, so then as we are members of the Body of Christ we should serve all the other members. This certainly requires humility as Jesus taught by washing the feet of his disciples.