John, Chapter 13

I have long talked about Jesus’ humility. It is this humility that allowed Him to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Could he have absolved us of our sins in another way? Of course! He is the Son of God. God could have chosen another way in which we find salvation, say if we all had to wear a live chicken on our heads for a month. It’s absurd, but if that is what God decided it would work.

That method, and most any other, would have been based on works though. As we know, salvation cannot be based on works because we are born into a sinful world with sinful natures. Only God, through a loving act of kindness, can provide a way to separate us from our sins. It had to be a sacrifice, since the ultimate wages of sin is death. We see the epitome of that humble nature on display as Jesus prepares for His sacrifice not by looking into Himself, but by continuing to serve those around Him.

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. – John 13:12-16

Jesus knew this was going to be the last night before his death. He knew what He had to face, yet He was still serving. Many people when facing death want to do something solely for themselves. Jesus does the opposite. Here is the most powerful man that ever lived, yet he reduces Himself to serve in a slave’s role to wash the feet of his disciples. He wanted to set before them one final example of what they were supposed to do in serving the church from that point forward.