Humility

Humility (by David Peterson at The Rock Of Jesus Church)

Before the Feast of the Passover, and while in the Upper Room, John 13:4-9 records Jesus as doing and saying the following; “Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

In an act of raw humility, our Lord and Savior, Jesus, our Christ, assumed the role of a lowly servant and washed the feet of His understudies. His selfless service to His disciples shocked them as they learned this lesson in Christian humility.

Richard Baxter, an English theologian who wrote The Reformed Pastor, wrote this about humility; “The very design of the gospel is to abase us; and the work of grace is begun and carried on in humiliation. Humility is not a mere ornament of a Christian, but an essential part of the new creature. It is a contradiction in terms, to be a Christian, and not humble.”

For certain, Christ’s model for all of us as His followers is one of humility.

Written by Judson W. Van DeVenter in 1896, the memorable hymn “I Surrender All” points to humility. Here is the first verse and refrain;

All to Jesus I surrender,

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

Refrain:

I surrender all, I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior,

I surrender all.

Van DeVenter captures an important concept about humility in that it requires surrendering to Christ.

Let us pray: Lord, teach us to walk humbly with you and reflect our Christian humility with all we encounter. We surrender our pride to your headship! Amen.