THE ATTITUDE OF JESUS
So He (Jesus) got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him.
John 13:4-5 (NLT)
Have you ever received an act of kindness so extravagant and unexpected that you didn’t know how to respond? Whether the disciples fully understood it or not, when Jesus—God incarnate, the maker and fulfiller of all things—knelt to wash their dirty feet, they were receiving an act of profound selflessness.
Why would a king stoop so low as to do the task reserved for the lowliest of servants? That attitude of humility and mercy was astounding. Only great love could motivate such an action, and it did.
In the Kingdom of God, we often live in paradox. One of those paradoxes is that leadership looks like humble service. Philippians 2 tells us that, though Jesus created the world, He took the form of a servant—of a mere human—and went even further, dying a death reserved for criminals (Philippians 2:1-11). Just before this, Paul writes something astounding:
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)
That same attitude—the one that led Jesus to kneel and serve—is meant to shape how we treat each other. But how? How can our fragile and fickle humanity ever hope to reflect Jesus himself?
Here’s the good news: we don’t have to fabricate this attitude of humility and love on our own. The same love we’ve received in Christ Jesus empowers us to love. The same humility, mercy, compassion and strength that met us in our most sinful state also teaches us to live with the attitude of Jesus. As we learn in Scripture, We love each other because He loved us first. 1 John 4:19 (NLT)
If Jesus wasn’t above serving anyone, neither are we. As believers, we’re called to live with a radical attitude of loving humility, with both believers and non-believers alike. As demonstrated by Jesus, this kind of humility conquers darkness, heals wounds, breaks chains and breathes life into everyone it encounters.
APPLICATION: Think about how God has met you with mercy and love. That same grace is meant to shape how you treat others.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank You for Your grace. Help me show that same love and humility to those around me. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?