"Jesus knowing that The Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded." [Jn 13:3-5]

There is good reason why The Lord admonishes us, “put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help;” [Psa 146:3] and again, “verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” [Psa 39:5] For at least one reason, it seems to be that when men suddenly acquire power – whether through fortunate events or by reason of lineage – that it often distorts their morality. A man, for example, who has spent his life serving in meekness and humility, often bearing the brunt of accusations, persecutions, and other hardships, who later in life suddenly acquires a vast fortune, may very well make a turn for the worst. In similar fashion to Uzziah, of whom it is written, “but when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction,” [2 Ch 26:16] and in disobedience to The LORD’s admonishment, “beware that thou forget not The LORD…lest…when thy herds and flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied…then thine heart be lifted up;” [Deut 8:11-14] that man forsakes all his former moralities and goodnesses and the true nature of the flesh, hidden deep within his heart, arises and comes forth.

Ah, but let us behold our God. Let us look upon the glories of Christ: for our Lord is holy and set apart, filled with righteousness and goodness beyond what men can comprehend. When Jesus, in the end of His life, came to that point where God had given to Him the full revelation of who He was – God in the flesh, the one-and-only Messiah for all mankind – so that Jesus sat before His disciples at Passover “knowing that The Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God,” [Jn 13:3] yes when all the assurances of the glory and riches He would inherit were firmly secured in heart and in mind, that information did not corrupt our Lord Jesus. But in stark contrast to the men of this world, Jesus took that information, and used it not to lord over His disciples, nor to force them to serve Him: no, but Christ Jesus stooped down, “laid aside His garments, and took a towel, and girded Himself…and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.”

Sit and meditate upon the character of Christ. Was there ever a man upon earth, who when it was revealed to him that he had the power and authority and riches over-and-above all those who once hurt him, so that he might freely do as he wished to them, that he used that knowledge and power to serve them? To wash their feet? May Jesus Christ our Lord be ever thanked and praised: for He is not like men. He is holy and set apart, full of love, and whose mercy endures forever. The man who sat before the disciples and wiped their dirt upon his own self, meekly, humbly serving them, is the same man who is alive today, who is resurrected to the right hand of God Almighty, who continually intercedes for you and I. May we come with freedom and with joy to His feet, knowing that He does not use His authority nor position for personal and selfish gain, nor does He use it to Lord over those who are His: but He uses His power to love and to bless. For we are told, “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” [Phil 2:5] And that mind is this:

“Let nothing be done through carnal ambition or empty pride; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” [Phil 2:3-4] And so let us rejoice in God our Maker, our Shepherd and Brother, Jesus Christ: for though He has all authority, yet He does not discount us nor look down on us, but instead lifts us up and desires to bless us.

Click here for more posts from Daily Meditations on Jesus’ Glory, Volume V