4 Important Powerful Life Lessons When Jesus Stooped Low
“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.6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet. ”Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”9 “Then, Lord,” 
Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. 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 Very truly I tell you, 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” (John 13 NIV).
LESSON 1 BECAUSE OF HIS GLORY -HE BOWED
Notice very carefully the words. Jesus knew that the “Father had placed all things under His power and that He was from God and was returning to God, so” He bowed Himself very low to the position of the lowest servant—the one who washed feet. Do you see that? Because of His Glory, His majesty and His power; He willingly became the servant to all those whom He loved. The most menial task became an expression of His love. Are we not asked to do the same? Because I know of who I am in Christ shouldn’t I be willing to cast aside my pride and my self-centered desires to bow low and serve my family? My neighbors? My coworkers? My brothers and sisters in Christ? Women are you willing to cast aside your pride to truly serve your husband? Or are you so caught up in “their fulfilling your happiness.” Men, I ask you the same? Or for a friend would you bow low and serve them? Because you know your joy, your happiness, and your treasure is secure in Christ alone—are you able to serve other Christians, or co-workers, or neighbors, never expecting anything in return?
LESSON 2-TO BE A GRACIOUS GIVER, ONE MUST BECOME A GRACIOUS RECEIVER
Read the dissertation between Peter and Jesus again. Within that discussion, I see two very important lessons. At first, Peter felt so very unworthy to allow Jesus to wash his feet and protested. Yet, in that was it a pride filled humility? Or a fear filled humility? Most of my life, I have been a very generous giver of gifts and service; yet, I find it very hard to receive gifts from anyone. I feel awkward as though I don’t deserve the gift or as though I won’t be able to “give as well in return.” Unless Peter was willing to allow God cleansing power to wash over him, He couldn’t belong to God. We must be willing to receive the gift—despite our unworthiness. We must be able to delight in that. We must be willing also to return to God with openness of heart to confess our sins, even as Christians which leads us to lesson three.
LESSON 3- ALTHOUGH I AM CLEANSED, MY FEET NEED TO BE WASHED
I am washed in the blood of Christ. My standing before God is that of Righteous; yet, along the paths of this journey on earth, my feet get dirty and need to be cleansed. I need to be willing to come to God with open heart and allow Him to wash my feet so that I might enjoy sitting at His table. I cannot enjoy the time I spend with Him when my feet are dirty.
LESSON 4—JUST AS JESUS WAS WILLING TO “WASH OUR SOILED FEET” WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO WASH THE FEET OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
Should we not in love reach out to a brother or sister in Christ to give them a helping hand when they have fallen? In total humility, because of all that Christ has done for us by grace alone; shouldn’t we reach out to those whose feet are caught in the mire? That is what Christ was teaching here!! When our fellow believer falls into sin, we should be willing to forgive and give him or her our helping hand. [bctt tweet=”We should be there with a basin of love & towel of grace to wash their feet when soiled”] All too often, we arrive with sword of hate and basin of gossip instead.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Because of who we are in Christ and all that He has provided by Grace to us, shouldn’t we be willing to bow low to serve?
The song I chose for you today is: Reaching Out
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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