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.
Well aware of His sovereign authority, His origin and His coming destiny, Jesus fleshes out for His disciples (and for all of us as well) a wonderful example of servant leadership in action. He had been from eternity with God and He was going back to God, knowing all the dignity and majesty of His office, He condescends to perform the most menial yet loving task. Believers comfortable in their own skin – knowing Who they belong to – knowing their lives are filled with purpose and power and hope, knowing they are fully loved and accepted, will have no trouble grasping this great Truth of Scripture – whoever desires to be great must be the servant of all. Those most highly esteemed will be those who serve, those who willingly humble themselves will be those that are exalted:
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:25-28 (NIV)
Having nothing to prove – no constant striving to be honored by man – there is not one thing regarding serving another that should be beneath those accepted in the Beloved – our Master has shown us this and has paved the way for our obedience. He is our great Teacher of lowliness of heart – always stripping off one glorious robe of honor after another until we find Him naked on a cross pouring out His lifeblood for you and for me. How then do we dare have the audacity to be proud? Paul tells us in Philippians:
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:5-11 (NIV)
Scripture is replete with the high call of humility for the followers of Jesus. Humility before God and man is what every child of God should strive for. The pride of man is detestable in God’s sight. Interestingly, it is number one on His list in Proverbs of the things that He hates – “haughty eyes” equating to a proud look:
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Prov 6:16-19 (NIV)
Our Lord told the crowds and His disciples who strained to do things for men to see and constantly sought the high places of honor to flee this pursuit of empty glory. We find the following in Matthew:
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matt 23:11-12 (NIV)
Honestly, it appears that those of us who are the most insecure are the very ones who are all about the worldly honor. We care so much about what man thinks. This thought has permeated our churches and our ministries as well as our lives. We oftentimes rate our success or failure on the approval and accolades of man. I doubt seriously if Mother Teresa began her ministry caring for the poorest of poor on this earth in Calcutta with the Nobel Peace prize in mind. She was simply humbly serving her Master by stopping to love and care for those who could not help themselves - and it was the Lord who exalted her in the eyes of man. Peter tells us we are to clothe ourselves with humility with the promise that we will receive God’s grace:
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:5-7 (NIV)
Our confidence lies in the fact that Christ is genuinely concerned about our welfare. He is acutely aware of all we are going through and has promised the grace sufficient to meet each need. He loves us and desires for us to fulfill the purposes He has prepared in advance for us to do - ever living to intercede for us at the right hand of God. It is therefore His desire for us to be His as well as the unique person He has created us to be.
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 (NIV)
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Heb 7:25 (NIV)
"You be you and you be Mine." Margaret Feinberg