“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded” (John 13:3-5; KJV).

Humility is so important in our Christian Walk. “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). However, our passage from John 13 shows more than the humility of Jesus. It shows a major, necessary characteristic of a leader, that of having a servant’s heart. For me, the most wonderful part of this passage; however, is the illustration of the confidence Jesus had in his relationship with his Father. He could humble himself in a way that must have amazed his disciples. He could do this because he was so secure in himself, knowing who he was and the relationship, love and support he enjoyed in our God.

We love people but our security must be in God; he will never let us down (Heb 13:5). With our focus on him and our confidence in our relationship with him, Just like Jesus, we can do all things (Phil 4:13); we can walk as Jesus did.

 “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matt 20:26-27; KJV). To the non-Christian this makes their head go tilt. Someone once said to me that if you want to know what to do look at what the world does and then do the opposite. Jesus said greatness in the Kingdom of God is marked by servant hood or by having the attitude of a slave.

This is all about putting others ahead of yourself; dying to self and laying your life before the Lord (Matt 10:39). Jesus said he came to serve not to be served (Matt 20:28) and he exhorted us to lay down our lives for our friends (John 15:13). Paul was a servant of God and man (1 Cor 4:1-2) and Peter certainly encouraged the early church leaders to have a servant heart (1 Peter 5:2-4).

Servant hood is really the zenith and hallmark of humility. I love the words that John the Baptist said in regard to Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). John knew his calling and was content to serve his God and fulfill his God given role of laying the ground work for Jesus; he had a servant heart!

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In first Timothy chapter 6 Paul admonishes his son in the Lord to avoid people that want to argue with God’s word and those who chase after money. He even says to flee these things (verse 11) but to pursue God’s will: “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (KJV). Righteousness is to be in right standing with God; Jesus won this for us by his death and resurrection (2 Cor 5:21) but we have to learn to walk in it. Godliness is to be God like and again, is something we grow in as we study his word and allow the Holy Spirit to change us. Our very walk with God is a walk of faith (Gal 3:11) and the Bible tells us that faith works by love (Gal 5:6) but requires patience (Heb 6:12). The primary way we grow our faith is by studying God’s word (Rom 10:17).

Meekness (also translated gentleness) is an interesting word. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit as are love and patience (Gal 5:22-23). To be meek is not to be like a mouse but it means to be confident in the power and victory we have in Christ with our emotions and power under control. This is well illustrated in 2 Timothy 2:24-25, where Paul exhorts Timothy not to quarrel but to teach and correct with humility, gentleness and patience.

So, what do we get out of all of this? Well, don’t run after money, be teachable, be humble and run after Jesus every day; aim to be more like him. If we seek him first, all the other God things will be added to us (Matt 6:33). Keep on pursuing Jesus this week.

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“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King coming unto the: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zech 9:9; KJV). At the culmination of his ministry on the earth, our King of Kings, Jesus, rode triumphant into Jerusalem, holding the keys to our salvation, death on a cross and resurrection to life. What power, what victory, what contrasts.

 His triumphant entry was not in a chariot of gold surrounded by warriors but he came sitting on a lowly donkey with his bewildered disciples around him. He did not come as an earthly conquering king to destroy the Roman oppression as many expected (John 6:15). He came humbly, to do his Father's will (John 5:19), and to win back dominion from satan and all the spiritual forces of darkness (Col 2:15).

This was a victory in the spirit realm that won forgiveness for us (Col 1:14), restored authority over satan and all his minions (Luke 10:19), and gave us eternal life with him (1 John 2:25). Zechariah foresaw it (Zech 9:9), Matthew reported it as fact (Matt 21:3) and the people rejoiced: "Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord" (Matt 21:9).

Christ, humbled to the point of death on a cross (Phil 2:8), won more than any mighty army of men ever achieved. Let's walk in that victory and authority and impact our world for good.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.