A Humble Love

“1  Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.[a] 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” John 13:1-5 NLT

In Jewish custom the washing of feet was a common practice due to their footwear of choice(sandals); sand would get all over their feet and as they entered homes the host was expected to provide water for his/her guest to wash their feet and not providing that water was considered an act of hostility. It was also customary for Priests to wash their feet before entering the tabernacle or before approaching the altar of burnt offerings. For priests there was an understanding that just as one would not be able to approach a king or prince without proper preparation (including washing of hands and feet) one should not enter the presence of YHWH without being cleansed unless they wanted to die. 

In the passage above we see the testimony of Jesus’ commitment to those that had followed him, scripture pointing out that ‘He loved them to the very end.” He was about to be betrayed and had been entrusted with the full measure of the Father’s authority, King Jesus responded the only way He knew how: He served; Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.  The son of the I AM, the expressed image of the I AM did the washing. A Prince in His own regard realized that all things had been placed into His authority and even so, He thought it expedient to humble himself and clean the worst parts of His disciples (even the one who would betray Him). 

In his last days Jesus established a new culture, he exemplified the true meaning of greatness in His humility. He taught us how to respond to divine elevation; in that moment it didn’t matter who would stand where in His coming afflictions. He cared that the disciples knew the heart posture necessary to glorify the Father even as the Father raised them. Day 13 denotes that we are more than half way there and two things are sure that as you have set time and heart aside to consecrate to the Father there is elevation coming and the trial precedes it. The question remains though: do you carry the heart to sustain the elevation? Jesus carried love in motion: a vehicle that has passengers like forgiveness, patience, humility, passion and compassion towards the people in His life. Will you carry the same moving forward?