The Full Extent of His Love

The Lord directed me to a passage of scripture yesterday that I can’t stop thinking about. With Easter upon us, I wanted to read something about what his life was like a few days before he was crucified. What were his last words before his gruesome death? What were the last lessons he would teach in this fleshly container? He had taught so many lessons, told so many stories, demonstrated his point so many times and yet the disciples still weren’t quite catching on. What would be his last attempt to show us God’s message?

It’s found in John 13 - he washed filthy man feet.

There are two things I’d like to ask God why he created: mosquitoes and man feet. I despise feet. I know they are necessary but why not give us chrome wheels to run around on? Are these boney, awkward, smelly appendages really the best idea? Some people get queasy from giving blood, I get queasy looking at man feet. Yuk! But Jesus decided to serve the ‘lowest’ part of the body by washing them.

‘It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.’ John 13:1-5.

Look at the verse I highlighted. Seems strange at first that in the middle of this story John would mention Jesus knew he was sovereign and knew he would soon return to glory. But there’s a reason he reminds us.

I used to have a housekeeper that would come help me when my children were small. I always tried to treat her with more dignity than a queen as I think it is so humbling to clean someone else’s toilets! I respected her for doing this “menial” job to help provide for her family. I wonder how much self control it would take to be a real queen and humble yourself to the point where you would “get up” and go to one of your subject’s houses and ask if you could clean their toilets.

Jesus is God! Jesus had already humbled himself significantly by putting on human flesh. His whole life had been an exercise of humility – born in a barn, raised to be a carpenter, misunderstood by his own people. Now he was taking another step in “getting up” and getting down on his knees to wash feet. Can we get the point yet? God is about showing the full extent of his love and this is done through humility and service.

The highlighted portion is starting to make more sense now, John is informing us about the incredible self-control and patience Jesus had. His composure of mind at this point is astounding. Judas is still there. Jesus knows Judas is going to betray him in just a few moments yet he is washing his feet. Jesus is able to do this ultimate act of servanthood because he knows he has already obtained victory over death. He was able to raise his mind to the glorious triumph which was speedily to follow.

It usually happens that when we are stressed, dreading something that is about to happen, we become agitated. Yet here is Jesus serving others. This is the ultimate stress test. Jesus would soon be handed over (multiple times by multiple people) to brutal torture and death. He doesn’t show agitation. He shows love because he knows who he is. He’s secure in his identity. How much more willing I would be to humble myself and “get up” to show love under pressure if I would remember my identity as well - a purchased, redeemed, known, loved child. Jesus has obtained the victory for me already so I am free to rise above the stress and free to serve.

Oh that I would receive the message Jesus spent his life trying to show. When I remember who I am in Christ I am free to humble myself and “get up” to serve others. The full extent of God’s love is so great it makes me willing to do the unthinkable…wash stinky man feet!