Day 11 "Power Found in Humility"

In the Near East culture, it was customary

for the host to make provisions for the washing of feet of any guest or traveler coming into the host's home. Usually, this low, degrading act would have been under-taken by the gentile servant of the house, for not even a Jewish servant would have been expected to perform such an act. Clearly such feet would have been filthy and dirty from traveling. Which makes this act performed by Jesus Christ all the more remarkable!

By faith, we as Christians, believe that Christ previously existed before his incarnation as a man here on Earth. We read in John chapter one that the Word (identified often throughout the New Testament to be Jesus) was from the beginning of time, was with God, was maker of all things, and in him was life itself.

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,

the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and

truth."

John 1:14

For Christ to relinquish such a previous position of glory and enter man's world as a mere man, begs the question why? In a world where most of us are egocentric in our nature, it is difficult to wrap our arms around such an act of humility and selflessness. To be able to view Jesus' life in its totality from beginning of his life to his death upon the cross, who among us would have been willing to give up such glory and volunteered for such an assignment? Would you have been willing to surrender your life for a people who would spit at you, mock you, abuse you, reject you, abandon you, and then crucify you? Would you even lay down your life for a friend? I believe Jesus was willing to walk this road life that would take him all the way to Calvary for two reasons: Love and obedience. ( obedience being subjected to love). He knew that he would do for us what we were incapable of doing for ourselves. He knew that the only way that man could be reconciled back into a relationship with God was to have a perfect life sacrificed to pay the penalty for our sins. Only then, would the penalty for our sins be rectified before a holy and just God and allow us to be reconciled back into a relationship with God as his children.

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,

the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,

scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2

And so, it would have been highly unusual for the twelve disciples of Christ to witness such a low-degrading act as Christ wanting to wash their feet. (What I find truly remarkable is Jesus washing all the disciple feet, including Judas who would betray him and Peter who would deny him) These were the same disciples who had been with Jesus for several years believing that Jesus was the Messiah, the one prophecised to liberate the Jewish people from bondage. I am sure that the disciples reacted with puzzlement to this humble act of service by Jesus.

"Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me teacher

and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, you Lord and teacher, have

washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example

that you should do as I have done for you."

John 13:12-15

I believe one of the key takeaways from this act of humility was the willingness for Jesus to do whatever was necessary to meet the needs of those around him. In do so, Jesus laid down the foundation and set the bar high for us to follow.

"A new commandment I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must

love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love

one another."

John 13;34-35

Jesus did whatever was necessary to reestablish our relationships with our heavenly Father.

The world offers many ways, many religions and beliefs, for you to navigate through and find purpose for life. Some may say that Christianity is closed-minded, non-inclusive and intolerant of others. I beg to differ. We are simply believers who believe that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to provide us with a way to be reunited back into a relationship with God and that God is real. And in doing so, showed us what real love and compassion is all about. It is the love of God that continues to pursue a relationship with man despite man rejecting God.

Jesus answered, " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through me."

John 14:6

What an invitation extended out to each of us. An invitation to come and get to know Jesus, and to see for yourself whether he is worthy enough for you to surrender your life to. Come discover the greatest life that ever lived in such love and humility. A life worthy of great honor and adoration. A life sacrificed for you.

Until tomorrow...