During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.1
Authority only comes through humility. The Man who held all power—the power that created the universe—knelt before his friend at the dinner table. It was the friend who saw the worth of Jesus as nothing more than 30 pieces of silver. It was already in Judas Iscariot’s heart to betray the Son of God. The money was in his pocket.
Knowing this, Jesus washed his feet.
There is nothing more crushing to our flesh than laying down our power to serve our enemies. I struggle even typing that sentence. It is like putting out your hands to be hand-cuffed and releasing your will, not to the enemy, but to God.
Meekness is knowing when the time is to rise up and when to bow down. It is about walking with understanding in both the knowledge of God and the will of God. They go hand-in-hand. God desires for us to walk with understanding of who He is and what He is doing. Faith is more than blind trust—it is about walking with Jesus and having a relationship with Him. This is demonstrated when Jesus called His disciples. He always called them to Himself, not ordering them to work.
Self-discipline can only take us so far in obedience. We need the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.2 The knowledge of God and His will gives us the power, might, endurance, and patience to obey Him.3 This is the “help” we desperately need if we will ever wash our enemies’ feet. Only the Spirit of God giving us understanding that we came from God and are going back to God will produce that kind of fruit.
The Holy Spirit’s job is to take the things belonging to Jesus and “enlighten the eyes of our hearts.”4 Before Jesus was crucified, He had many more things to say. The Holy Spirit was given to tell us these things. He was also sent to tell us the things that are to come. When we know what is ahead, especially concerning Jesus’ second coming, we are more prepared to participate in God’s will.
You trust someone when You know them. God came down to be clothed with undesirable human flesh because He wanted us to tangibly know Him. The center of the new covenant reality that Jeremiah prophesied was that we wouldn’t have to be taught to know God, but that we would all know Him.5 Jesus paid for the wages of sin by His death on the cross. He traded His life to give us ours. The blood of Jesus is the substance of the new covenant.6 The knowledge of God was spilled out on Calvary.
We enter in through this body and blood. It is the only gate to know God, know His will, and in turn produce radical obedience. This knowledge gives us strength to lay down our power to be chained to Christ. God does not arrest us against our will like the authorities of this world.
Instead, Jesus arrests with His love. He is the Man who rescued us from the bondage of sin and the dark pit of depression. He adopted us into His kingdom and died the death that we deserve. We now have a way to eternal life. We now have a way to know God, today, and forever in the ages to come.
The center of our lives is now getting to engage in the highest possible pleasure of a man—to gaze at the beauty of Jesus. This captivating beauty was seen by the disciples during their last meal together. It wasn’t Jesus’ outward appearance, ministry success, or reputation that was beautiful. It was the moment He rose from the table. They watched as He laid aside His outer garments, knelt down, and washed the feet of his friend who had silver pieces of betrayal in his pocket. They didn’t understand it at the time, but afterward they did.
The meek shall inherit the earth. The meek are the only ones fit to govern. Jesus is worthy to take the scroll in Revelation 5 because He is the slain lamb. When He had all the power to save Himself, He laid it down to save the least and broken (you and me). When the meek hold power, they lay it down. They use all they have to serve. This is the beauty we behold in our King. Jesus, the slain lamb for all of eternity. This is who He is. Our King who came to wash feet.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.7
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.8