by Debra Neybert, Heartbeat International, Training Specialist
(from Take Heart Volume 2, Issue 2)
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… When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place (John 13:3-5, 12).
As Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He was able to see beyond where He was… about to lay down His life. He was able to see Himself seated at the right hand of God. What divine security, a security that we can take hope in! As a result, Jesus was willing to release “His rights” as God’s Son and walk in humility always doing His Father’s will.
Jesus was about to express His greatest act of love. The word used in John’s Gospel passage for “took off” (tithemi – related to a classical Greek word) is not the common word used for this action; this form of “took off” refers to Jesus' imminent laying down of his life. Interestingly, the word used in John’s Gospel for “put on” His clothes (lambano) was used to describe the act of taking up His life again. These same words are used again in John 10:17-18: “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life— only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Without His outer garment, Jesus was left with a tunic, a shorter garment like a long undershirt that gentile slaves would often wear to serve a meal.
We see this pictured in Philippians 2:5-8. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross.”
In this season let us lay down anything that prevents us from uniting and advancing the life- giving Kingdom of God. Let us put on love, serving and preferring one another. Love never fails. As we take up new life in Christ we take up God’s purposes, His wisdom, and His plans. This empowers us to succeed against all the plans of the wicked one and to experience victory.
Return to Take Heart Volume 2, Issue 2.
