Humble

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
Philippians 2:5–7

English Standard Version

In the United States, in 2020, we wash our own feet.  I know you probably wonder where this might be going with that great insight!  But, bear with me.  Foot washing in Biblical times was the norm. Sandals and dusty desert conditions resulted in many dirty feet.  The cultural expectation for good hygiene and manners was that one would wash their feet upon entry into a home.  Hosts would be remiss had they not provided water for guests to clean their feet upon entry into the house.

Wealthy individuals may even provide a servant to wash the feet of guests upon entry.  This task was the most menial within a household.  So low, that Hebrew servants would not be required to wash the feet of guests; it was below even the servant’s dignity.

From Genesis to the New Testament, we see life lived around this cultural practice as an act of hospitality, an expression of courtesy, and a demonstration of humility.  The first mention in the Bible of washing feet is found in Genesis 18:4 when Abraham offers three angels water to wash their feet after a journey.  “Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,”  Later, Rebekah’s family provided water for Abraham’s servant and the men who traveled with him so they might wash their feet.  “So the man came to the house…and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.”

This humble service was offered to gain the favor of the recipient.  Abigail performed this lowliest of courtesies to King David’s men who came to bring her to David for marriage.  “And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” (1 Samuel 25:41)

Jesus spoke with intentionality to His disciples regarding his purpose for coming to Jerusalem from Galilee in John 13.  His actions at this moment spoke even louder than his words.  He, the Creator, Son of God, King of Kings, would wash the feet of each disciple.

No one is above humble service

The Christian band, Casting Crowns, has a fantastic song based on the life of John the Baptist.  The chorus of the song says, “I am just nobody, tryin’ to tell everybody; long about somebody, who saved my soul.”  That describes the life of John the Baptist, and perhaps more than anyone in Scripture, John knew his God-given purpose.  He was the voice crying in the wilderness prophesied in Isaiah 40 to announce the coming of the Messiah.  His ministry was foretold to us centuries before he arrived, and yet, he followed his humble and divine purpose.

In Luke 3:16, “John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  Catch that statement, “whose sandals I am not worthy to untie,” John felt unworthy, not only to wash the Savior’s feet, but he could not see himself worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals!  He captured the essence of this picture in the statement, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

Now, contrast the life of John’s life with another encounter Jesus had with Simon the Pharisee.  Jesus had dinner at the home of Simon, who was a Pharisee (not to be confused with Simon Peter, the disciple).  At that dinner, Simon condemned Mary for wasting costly ointment, anointing the feet of Jesus, and washing His feet with her tears.  Jesus praises Mary’s act and chastises Simon for not even offering water so dinner guests might wash their own feet.  Culturally, providing water for one to wash their feet was a common courtesy.  Simon was unfamiliar with the concept of humbly serving one another.

“Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.” (Luke 7:44)

So John saw himself as unworthy to even unloose the strings of Jesus’s sandals, and Simon thoughtlessly had his guests lounge at dinner with dirty feet, not offering water for them to wash.

Who are you more like today?  Can you identify with John, just a nobody trying to tell everybody about Jesus, serving anybody? Or, are you more like Simon, who in pride failed to provide a common courtesy to the Saviour of the world?

No one is above being served

In 2019, our home flooded twice.  Never before had our house flooded.  It is not in a flood zone.  Thankfully, because it is Houston, we had insurance coverage for both losses.  But, the disruption to a routine and “normal” life was obnoxiously inconvenient.  Six weeks after moving back home, after being out for three months while repairs were made, we flooded again in September.  The second time was worse.

The first flood, I struggled to accept help from friends and family.  I thought, “I’ve got this under control.”  I didn’t have it under control but wanted to believe I did.  The work got done, but it was overwhelming.  The second time, I embraced others willing to help us.  There is a sweet humility that cultivates when accepting the service of others.  For a lot of us, the concept of being served by others is foreign.  We become accustomed to serving others, and unwittingly, pride can creep into our hearts.  Everyone has points in life when they need help.  When that day comes to you (not if), don’t deny others the blessing of serving you!  Don’t miss the blessing of being served on occasions of need!  It took two home floods, but now I understand the concept much better!

Twelve disciples were present that night in John 13, and Jesus knew one disciple would betray him.  His name was Judas Iscariot.  As Jesus humbled himself that night, one disciple after another had their feet washed by the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Can you imagine?

Have this mind among yourselves

Philippians 2:7 states that Jesus took upon Himself “the form of a servant.”  He did not discriminate; he washed twelve pairs of feet.  He washed Peter’s, James’, and John’s feet, the leaders of the disciples, and which would mature into church leaders and writers of the New Testament.  But, he also washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, as well.  No one is above being served!

Not only should we allow ourselves to accept someone’s service on our behalf humbly, but we also should not discriminate who we serve.  Proverbs put it this way, “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” (Proverbs 25:21–22)

In our daily walk, may we seek the mind of Christ in our service and follow his example of service to others!

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10)

English Standard Version