Jesus at the Feet of His Betrayer: Humility That Rises by Going Low

Introduction

Matt Marvane opens this message with a riddle: "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." Who said these words, and in what context? It was Jesus, at the foot washing. That day, Jesus defined humility, not only with words, but by example.

The base text is John 13:1-5. Before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knows that his hour has come to depart out of this world to the Father. Having loved his own, he loves them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray him, Jesus rises from supper, lays aside his outer garments, takes a towel and wraps it around himself, pours water into a basin, and begins to wash his disciples' feet.

Jesus knew that the time had come: the time to die, the time to rise again, the time to return to the heaven he came from. And once more he takes the opportunity to reveal the depth of his boundless love, at a final meal.

Sermon Outline

1. A last meal shared in intimacy

A few weeks earlier, Matt Marvane had preached on the theme "cum panis," from the Latin meaning "companion": sitting down at the table, taking time to be among friends, not simply to share good food, but to live out the reality of the gospel. That fellowship which changes, transforms, and turns lives upside down.

Here again, Jesus is at the table. A meal unlike any other he will ever share. He is in the intimacy of the twelve he loves, just before being mocked and publicly humiliated. Jesus did not preach only to the crowds. In this house, away from prying eyes, around the table, he is about to express his love once more, not only with words, but with actions, gestures, an attitude, a way of being.

This table wasn't simply a chance to eat together one last time. It was one more proof, so that they would never forget. He would later tell them: "Do this in remembrance of me." Don't forget this meal, share it again as often as you like, and you will remember me. Jesus loves them to the end and humbly takes on the stature of a servant for his disciples. Because true love always shows itself, proves itself, reveals itself. He is about to wash their feet.

2. Washing feet: Jesus at the feet of the betrayer

In the East, wearing open sandals meant dust was always on people's feet. Feet got dirty fast and had to be washed often. It was considered very courteous to have a slave or servant assigned to wash the feet of those entering the house. It was even sometimes seen as a demeaning task, one only slaves or servants took on, or one forced onto them. There was also a tradition where wives washed their husband's feet, or children washed their parents'.

But here, Jesus makes himself a slave. He chooses the position of a servant and carries out this ordinary task that would normally never fall to him. And he takes the time to do it for every one of his disciples in the same way: you don't wash everyone's feet at once, each one takes his turn. He even took the time to wash Judas' feet.

Jesus knew very well what Judas was about to do. His heart was already in the enemy's grip. And yet, just as with the others, his unconditional love, his perfect love, showed itself at that meal. There are meals that change a life, that stamp something into the hearts of those present for eternity.

Jesus at the feet of the traitor, when Judas should instead have been bowing at the feet of the Master. Picture the scene: Jesus himself washing the feet of the one who, a few hours later, would kiss him to signal his arrest. What a lesson in humility!

Not only does Jesus take on the servants' task, he dresses like a slave. He removes his robe as a Jewish religious teacher, he sets aside his rabbi's garment to pick up a plain slave's towel. Why? To teach us, two thousand years later, that no act can lower us when we seek to promote God's glory and the good of others. Living for Christ, existing for others.

Christ's attitude is a powerful symbol of spiritual cleansing, but also of a new model: the model of humility that every Christian is called to embody. We follow Jesus as our perfect model. The supreme beauty, Jesus Christ, is humility in the flesh.

3. Humility brought to its fullness

Yes, Jesus brought love to its fullness. But we can also say he brought humility to its fullness, and the two always go together. His whole life was nothing but a demonstration of humility: born in a stable, an insignificant baby; dying on a cross like a criminal, like an outcast, like a terrorist; and at this meal, he takes the place of a slave. The life of Jesus is a true masterclass in humility.

We, as human beings, received the opposite of humility: pride. We inherited it from Adam, because we have all sinned. And what is sin? Pride, nothing more, nothing less. It's thinking I can live my life without God.

That's why we need to put on this new coat, this new identity in Christ, this garment as sublime as the humility of Christ. But be careful: humility before God means nothing if there is no humility before others. You can bend the knee before God; if you don't know how to humble yourself before people and serve them, it's worth nothing. If you love your Father, you will know how to serve the smallest of the small, even someone you know will betray you one day.

There is no love that is not rooted in humility. Read again 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: love is patient, is kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. That is humility. And that's when you can say: I need this. We are all still on the road.

In Christ, we are clothed with this coat of humility. It's no longer pride that leads us, but humility seeking to express itself in real, concrete actions, every day: at a meal, during a coffee break with coworkers. This is not a coat left in the closet all week to be put on only at church on Sunday, from 3:30 to 5pm, just to look humble and like a good worshiper. No. This coat is Christ in me. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And I will do everything I can never to stain this coat with the pride of my own life.

4. The ant analogy

Imagine you are the one who created the ant. You love this ant. One day, you see it heading toward an extremely dangerous place that will surely lead to its death. What can you do to save it? How do you warn it? It doesn't think like you, it can't understand you, hear you, or see you. If you try to touch it, you risk killing it. If you put your hand in front to stop it, it just climbs over.

The solution is for you to become an ant yourself, to go and join it, and to say: "Don't go there, you'll die. Follow me, and you will live. Follow me, and you will see: there are great and beautiful things waiting for you."

That's exactly what Jesus did for us. He was in his heaven of glory, and he chose to become an ant for us. God could not touch us with his hand without risking destroying us all. The whole Old Testament shows us that he sent servants, men and women, to warn us. But he had to send one perfect ant: Jesus, who left his heaven of glory, who humbled himself all the way down to us by taking on human form, to guide us, so we could hear him, follow him, understand him. Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Follow me and you will live, let go of everything else, I will always be with you.

5. Where and when to imitate the Master? At the table, with the towel

Matt Marvane invites us to imitate our Master. Where and when? At the table, for starters. Simply saying thank you to God for what's on the table is already a form of humility. Taking a moment to say: "Lord, thank you for the grace of eating my fill every day; I don't have to wonder whether I'll starve tomorrow. I see that you are a good and faithful God to me." That is humility. There are good traditions, or good habits if you prefer: at every meal, remembering that God is good, just, and faithful at all times.

Next, picking up the towel. Jesus displayed the glory of God by picking up that cloth reserved for slaves. He took on the form of a servant. There is nothing more divine, nothing more heavenly than serving others. There is no greater mark of humility on earth than lowering yourself to serve someone smaller, someone God loves and no one else wants to lift up.

Unfortunately, humility isn't seen enough as a defining trait of a disciple of Jesus. A defining trait is what sets us apart. Gentleness and humility of heart should be the main marks by which people recognize those who follow Jesus Christ, he who called himself "meek and lowly in heart."

In a nice restaurant, you may have seen those waiters with a towel draped over their arm. Not for show: to show they're ready to serve you. If you spill your glass, they don't ask you to wipe it up, they wipe it for you. Always ready, always willing. Jesus came, picked up that towel, and served them, the gentle, humble Lamb.

Humility shows itself in how we relate to one another. For those following the relationships theme in the Thursday evening "Growing Together" gatherings: if we want to live healthy, loving relationships, the common denominator that makes it work is humility. This humility even pushes you to see your neighbor as greater than yourself. Only God's love is capable of such a thing. Our humility before God is worthless if it doesn't prepare us to reveal the humility of Jesus to our neighbor, and so to love them as Jesus does.

6. Do I look like the original?

One last point: are we ready to ask someone this, within the church, expecting a true and honest answer: "Do you recognize a resemblance to the original in me? When you look at me, do you see Jesus?" Let's ask ourselves the real questions.

Our salvation is eternal, and its source is Christ's humility. If Jesus had not been clothed in humility, there would never have been salvation: he never would have left heaven. This tells us that true service to God is necessarily a path of humility. There is no love for God without humility. And this salvation is extraordinary because it also gives us the ability to be humble like him. You may see this as far off today; even the preacher tells himself he is so far from it. But every day, we can draw a little closer. "I want to become humble like Jesus, because in becoming humble like him, I will love and serve as he served."

Are we concerned enough about the importance of being clothed in humility? Probably not enough, because pride is always lurking. Pride will always lead you to "me, I," and you quickly end up at the center of everything. But when I look at the cross, when I look at my Savior, it brings me back. That's why we will never tire of reading the Gospels: his birth, his journey, Gethsemane, his death on the cross. All of it inevitably leads back to the path of humility and love.

Our sinful nature is by definition proud. But where is it now? Crucified on a cross. And it's good to remind it of that: "Proud nature, you are crucified, you have no place here anymore. It is the nature of Jesus Christ that must reign over your life, your thoughts, your actions, what you say, what you do." It's reassuring to remember that it doesn't depend on me, but on what Christ has done for me. Every day, I can hold on to that and live depending on this new nature.

So let's not seek to become someone, but to serve with a good heart. Pride will always push you to try to become somebody, to make a name, sometimes by elbowing others out of the way and stepping on them. Christ's humility will always lead you to serve, to disappear, because you no longer exist. Jesus disappeared at that last meal: he became a slave. Humility is the only staircase of honor in the kingdom of God. It's a real paradox: if you want to go up, you have to go down. Do you want to live great things? Go down to the basement, go humble yourself, go recognize who you are, and God will do his work. Becoming somebody is God's job. Humbling yourself is yours. Leave to God what only he must do.

Humility must matter to us so much that it becomes the essential thing we admire in Jesus, the supreme grace we ask him for, and for which we would be willing to make every sacrifice. "You have clothed me with your coat, you have justified me, you have given me your nature. I want that nature to be expressed."

Maybe you're telling yourself: "My nature is proud, it won't want this path." But don't forget: he became an ant for you. He came all the way to you and he says: "Follow me. Where your pride is taking you, you will die. But if you follow me, you will live."

Today's proverb, Proverbs 16, landed right on the subject: "Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; they will certainly not be unpunished." An abomination is like a monster God cannot bear to look at. In fact, by placing yourself under pride, you punish yourself: your pride inevitably leads you to a fall, as verse 18 of the same chapter says: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

The message closes with the song "Teach Me to Love You as We Love in Heaven." Simply saying "teach me" is already a word of humility. Who still wants to learn today? Yes, Father, teach me, also through one another, by serving and loving around a meal, in everyday life. It is the challenge of a lifetime, but it is possible in Jesus Christ: to be concerned with the humility of Christ that is in me and that I am called to reflect everywhere and for everyone.

Key Takeaways

• Jesus defined humility by example: at the last meal, he sets aside his rabbi's robe, picks up a slave's towel, and washes the feet of the twelve, Judas included.
• No act can lower you when you are seeking God's glory and the good of others.
• Love and humility always go together: there is no love that is not rooted in humility (1 Corinthians 13).
• Humility before God has no value without humility before others; it shows itself in our relationships.
• Humility is the only staircase of honor in the kingdom: if you want to go up, you have to go down. Becoming somebody is God's job; humbling yourself is yours.

Personal Application

• At your next meal, do you take a moment to thank God, or do you eat as if it were owed to you?
• Who is the "smallest" person around you, the one no one wants to lift up, whose feet you could wash this week?
• Does your coat of humility stay in the closet Monday through Saturday, only coming out at church on Sunday?
• Would you dare ask a brother or sister: "When you look at me, do you see a resemblance to Jesus?"
• In what area are you trying to "become somebody" when Jesus is calling you to serve?

Scriptures Cited

• John 13:1-5: Jesus rises from supper, takes a towel, and washes his disciples' feet
• John 13:15: "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you"
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: love does not boast, is not puffed up, endures all things
• John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life"
• Matthew 11:29: "I am gentle and humble in heart"
• Galatians 2:20: it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me
• Proverbs 16:5, 18: everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; pride goes before a fall

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Jesus wash his disciples' feet?

In the East, with open sandals, feet were always dusty, and that task fell to slaves or servants. Jesus takes off his rabbi's robe, picks up a plain slave's towel, and washes the feet of each of the twelve, Judas included. He defines humility by example and teaches us that no act can lower us when we are seeking God's glory and the good of others.

What is the link between humility and love according to 1 Corinthians 13?

There is no love that is not rooted in humility. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 describes a love that does not boast, is not puffed up, does not seek its own, bears all things: that is the very description of humility. Love and humility always go together; they cannot be separated.

How do you become humble like Jesus in everyday life?

It starts at the table: thanking God for what you're eating is already a form of humility. Then serving, picking up the towel like a waiter at a restaurant, seeing your neighbor as greater than yourself, including at work or during a coffee break. Don't try to become somebody; try to serve. Becoming somebody is God's job. Humbling yourself is yours.