Object Lesson In Humility

by R. Armstrong, London, Ontario, Canada | Category: In The Shadow Of Calvary | Mar 1986

The Setting

'Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came forth from God, and goeth unto God, riseth from supper, and layeth aside His garments; and lie took a towel, and girded Himself Then He poureth water into the bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded" (John 13:3-5).

There is no record, as they travelled in Israel for three years, that any of the disciples ever washed the feet of Christ, no doubt often travel-stained and weary. To a woman, deeply repentant of her sins, goes the honour of such an act. In the house of Simon the Pharisee she quietly stood behind Him, tears flowing, sufficient to bathe His feet, which she dried with her hair and kissed repeatedly (Luke 7:36-50).

A quote from "Bible lands Customs" is helpful about feet washing. "After bowing, greeting, and kissing, the Eastern guest is offered water for washing his feet. A servant will assist the guest by pouring the water on his feet over a copper basin, rubbing the feet with his hands, and wiping them with a napkin". This was confirmed by the lord's censure of Simon.

"Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest Me no water for My feet: but she hath wetted My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Thou gavest Me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss My feet "(Luke 7: 4445j

Water was provided by the host and only when a menial servant was present were the feet washed by such a person. This explanation greatly enhances the Lord's selfless action on the betrayal night. He took the place of the servant to minister. Had He not taught the disciples earlier,

"whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister (Gk. diakonos, servant)"

"And whosoever would be first among you, shall be your servant (Ok. doulos, bondservant)".

Our Lord then added:

"Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, (diakonos), and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mat. 20:28).

The Action

In the Upper Room scenario that historic night, we see the astonished disciples with uncomprehending eyes watch their Lord and Master remove

His outer garment, wrap a towel around His body, pour water into a basin, then one by one tenderly wash their feet... until He came to Peter.

"Lord, dost Thou wash my feet" (John 13:6)?

It was as much an assertion as a question, because Peter had already made up his mind. One marvels at the way the Lord handled Peter's interruption so gently.

"What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter" (John 13:7).

Peter, impulsive, self assertive, was not satisfied with Christ's reply and blurted out,

"Thou shalt never wash my feet!" (v.8).

The others listened in shocked silence. It was like a stinging rebuke to Christ. Peter, how could you dare say that to the lord? However much we may wish to make allowance for Peter, that he must have felt so inferior to the Lord, it still comes across as Peter's will against the Lord's. The fact remains on the record that he talked back to the Sovereign Lord of the universe!

As we reconstruct the scene we feel a deep sense of worship before the lord, for His amazing humility and patience with Peter in his blundering refusal. However, before condemning the fledgling apostle, can we not see a reflection of our own nature in moments of self-will, to win a point, or justify an action? The tragedy of this is that we may do it in the Name of the Lord. Is it not true that sometimes we walk a thin line between God's glory and our own glory? However strongly we may contend for God's will and glory, it should never violate the spirit of meekness and humility.

In the room that night, right under the shadow of Calvary, a contrary human will co-existed with divine humility of amazing dimensions. The break came when the Lord quietly told Peter,

"If wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me "(John 13:8).

The Greek word for "part" is meros, meaning a section or allotment, a division or share. At that moment, it threatened to be all over for Peter, not his eternal life, but his future days of service for Christ. He was standing in the way of his apostleship. That did it. He may have suddenly remembered Moses, who in anger smote the rock in Kadesh instead of speaking to it, and was denied entrance into the promised land. For whatever reasons, which the Lord knew all too well, Peter quickly changed position and said, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head". It was all or nothing. How could he have changed so quickly? Some might have said, "that man will never make it as an apostle of Christ, or of the church". Others, "he could never be commended for the work of the Lord", yet 50 days later he led the evangelism outreach in Jerusalem at Pentecost, when three thousand were saved, baptized and added to the first church of God in the new age of the Spirit. Amazing grace of God!

The Purpose

Going back to the lord's words to Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me" shows that there was more to it than simply washing the disciples' feet. The Lord adopted a cultural custom to illustrate deeper spiritual truths. Firstly, the lord said to Peter, "He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all" (meaning Judas). Two important Greek words occur here. The word "bathed" is louo, meaning to bathe the whole body. The word "wash" is nipto, meaning part bathing, the hands, feet or face. It was as though the Lord gave advance lessons on Paul's letter to Titus.

"Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).

That answers to "he that is bathed", a once-for-all washing, which takes place at the new birth. Then the ancient Scripture writer asks the question,

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word" (Is. 119:9)

This answers to the daily cleansing of the word on the walk of the disciple on his way to glory. This again is not the same as the cleansing referred to in I John 1:7, where it says, "the blood of Jesus His Son, cleanseth us from all

Sin"..

Secondly, we read in John 13:12,

"So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and sat down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you"?

He then explained another vital principle.

"If I then, the Lord and the Master, have wash ed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you "(vv. 14-15).

John's gospel deals in fundamental spiritual teaching as well as narrative. That he only of the four gospel writers records the washing of the disciples' feet, suggests it was as much a symbolic act as something He told them to do. It was not however, to be a church practice as some hold it to be. By doing it Himself He taught the disciples His own selfless humility. To actually see the humble self-effacing Christ wash their feet was far more effective than a thousand sermons on humility. They would never forget it.

Proverbs 15:33 tells us that, "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour goeth humility".

The disciples had to learn that spiritual principle deep in their hearts, as they set out to make disciples, plant churches, and feed the flock of God.

"The Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle... in meekness correcting them that oppose. (2 Tim. 2:24-25).

Finally, the Lord's act of humility was predictive of His own redemptive work. Years later Paul wrote,

"Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, but emptied Himself taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross " (Phil. 2:5-8).

We must remember that although the Lord stooped to wash the disciples' feet, signifying His great descent and humbling of Himself, He gave up none of His essential Deity. Stooping to that humble task He was still God "in the likeness of men". His obedience unto death did not mean that death has power over Him. "Unto" is said to be a translation of a word that means "Up to the point of dying" (Wuest). That helps us to understand what the Lord meant when He said, "I lay down My life... No one taketh it away from Me, but I lay it down, 9f Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from My Father" (John 10:17-18). He was Sovereign Lord of life and death!

Humility was always in the character of our lord as God the Son. He has left us His beautiful example of humility. Pride, the opposite to humility, is in our fallen nature, and only as we reckon it crucified with the flesh can we win the battle against pride. Pride can subtly masquerade in pseudo-humility. It's carnal, born of the flesh. God hates it.

"Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD... pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:5,18).

Many a promising spiritual life has been ruined for God, and many a preacher's message robbed of its power through secret pride in the heart. Beware of pride, Satan's trap, and who of us has not felt its power.

"Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).

The seasoned apostle who wrote that had come a long way since the night of the historic feet-washing.

Blessed be the Lord!

R. Armstrong, London, Ontario, Canada | Mar 1986
In The Shadow Of Calvary