Humility and service

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. John 13:1-5

It was the evening before the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ that He spent an intimate moment with His disciples in the Upper Room. There He taught His disciples service, love, the Holy Spirit, heaven, union with God and prayer. From the text, He provided an example to His disciples calling them to a life of humility and service. In His example, He had shown the extent of His love. This is the purpose why they were in the Upper Room. He wanted His disciples to learn from His example and to grow out of that experience loving others. John described the deity of Christ by saying, “Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father.” Though He is God, He stoop down humbling Himself before His disciples, took the towel so He could wash their feet. All throughout His life while here on earth, the disciples had witnessed the love of God. Now, even at the last moment of His life on earth, He wanted them to experience how “he loved them to the very end.” Jesus took aside His garment, wrapped a towel around His waist for He was there to serve His disciples. This act was a portrayal of His life where He left His glory in heaven, humbled Himself and took the form of a servant, died the shameful death at the cross so He could wash the sins of those who will trust Him as Lord and Savior. His life was dominated by service for this was the purpose why He came. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). After He washed the feet of His disciples, He told them why He did it. “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). If we count ourselves as followers of Christ, we must humble ourselves and serve others. “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave” (Philippians 2:5-7).

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman

www.my-wbc.com