DIRTY FEET … YUK!

Jesus lived and taught counter-culturally. The world teaches us to be king-of-the-hill, but Jesus taught humility. The world reveres the richest, the most powerful, the most influential, the guy with the biggest house, the fastest car, and big desk in the corner office.

When an “argument started among (His disciples) about who was the greatest of them … Jesus told them, ‘Whoever … is least among you—this one is great’ ” (Luke 9:46–48).

He cautioned Peter, John, James, and the others about pride. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11) and “whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving” (Luke 22:26).

Jesus didn’t just teach humility, He lived it!

Before the Passover meal, on the night before Jesus was arrested, condemned, and crucified, Jesus preached a most-powerful sermon … one without words.

“He got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him” (John 13:4-5). In so doing, Jesus took the place of the lowest servant.

“When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you’ ” (John 13:12-15).

The disciples were obviously watching listening. Years later, Peter wrote, “Cloth yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:5–7).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).