The Humble God

The Humble God

Read: John 13:1-17

“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

John 13:8

“Jesus’ life began in a borrowed stable and ended in a borrowed tomb.”

—Alfred Plummer

IN WORD Jesus’ illustration of the Incarnation must have made little sense to the disciples at the time. Peter resisted the foot-washing, and his words probably expressed the sentiments of the others. What was Jesus doing? They had spent three years coming to a realization of His greatness; now He was redefining what greatness is. It didn’t look anything like what a victorious, reigning Messiah ought to look like.

And think about the subjects—those dirty, sinful feet. The treacherous feet of Judas, carrying him to the dark, secret places of Jerusalem on wicked business. The stubborn feet of Peter, standing resolute in the courtyard while his cowardly mouth denied any association with Jesus. The fleeing feet of everyone else for whom the Cross was just too much to take. They were dirty in more ways than one. But Jesus knelt before them and washed them. He served them with humility.

We can entertain no personal indignation in the face of Jesus’ example. How can frail humans look down on others when even the King of kings would not? How can we hold others in contempt when the Alpha and Omega carefully held the most contemptible extremities of these earthen vessels in His hands and cleaned them? How can we maintain human pride when the exalted Lord refused to?

IN DEED We praise this high and holy God for His power and majesty. Do we also praise Him for His humility? We can; we serve a humble God. He did not ride into this world on a gilded chariot. He was born in a stable. He left His radiant appearance to be clothed in a human body subject to temptation and pain. We are not worthy to utter His name, but He tells us to call Him Father and Friend.

Do you suffer from the illusion of an unknowable God? You know what the Bible says, that He is loving and forgiving; but has that really sunk into your heart? Consider the humility of God. The high and holy One is never inaccessible to someone with a contrite spirit. He encourages your intimacy with Him. He’ll even wash your feet.