John 13:1-5

            In John 13 Christ begins by telling His disciples the way they will both receive and use the great provision He will leave for them.  For 3 years He has lived righteously and powerfully.  He has done it in the way we must do it.  He did not cheat (so to speak) and use His divine power to get out of difficult situations.  Rather he emptied himself (Phil. 2:5-8), submitting Himself to His Father’s will and being filled with the Spirit.
          Now, by a forceful picture, Jesus teaches His disciples that their only hope of living out of His resources will be if they are in receiving mode.  Their hope is not bound up in self-confidence.  Rather, they must see themselves as humbled servants.
          The primary New Testament word for humility (e.g. Eph. 4:2; Phil. 2:3) means lowliness of mind.  It is an attitude first, as it involves the mind.  But it is always to be translated into action.  Such is the case with Jesus.  In John 13 we see Jesus’ active humility in washing the feet of His disciples (v1-17).  We also see a passive humility in that He allows for the betrayer (Judas) and the one who denies (Peter) to do their work without using divine privilege to stop them.
          Where does such lowliness of mind originate?
          For Jesus (as for us) it results from a supreme confidence in God the Father.  From John 13:1-5 consider the following.
          – Jesus knew that the time had come to return to the Father.  Led by the Holy
              Spirit the approaching Passover was the clue that His sacrificial death was
              at hand (v1).
          – Jesus knew that the betrayal would not be an obstacle but a part of God’s
               plan (v2.)
          – Jesus knew who He was as the Son of God and that His Father’s plan
               would be concluded as it had begun (v3.)
          Humility is not the product of human weakness as some suppose.  Human weakness leads to feelings of self-pity or insignificance.  But neither is it the fruit of human strength.  It is not that we are so self-assured that we can humbly consider the needs of others.
          Rather it is borne out of confidence that God is in control, that His plan is unfolding moment by moment, and that we are submissive to that plan.  Out of this God-confidence Jesus was faithful to love His disciples to the end.  Thus, with humility, He took up the towel and washed their feet.
          Are you in a receiving mode?  Are you trying to live out of self-confidence or God-confidence?