We only have to look to Jesus example of washing his disciples feet in John 13: 1-17, to glimpse the essence of true humility:
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.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When 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. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Growing up, I went to a church that believed and practiced foot washing as part of our communion service. The men and women separated to follow Jesus in the washing ceremony. Humbling as it may be to wash the woman next to me with their dirty, smelly feet, Jesus example means so much more.
In those days, it was often custom of the servant (the lowest servant) to wash your guests feet before a meal. Most travelers wore sandals leaving their feet dusty and smelly from journeys of walking to and fro.
Imagine Jesus, no questions asked, take off his outer robe. This white robe of a teacher represented His position and power. Yet, he set aside this earthly title of teacher by removing His robe to wash the filth from the disciples feet, something that only the lowest of servants did. This change in appearance of a servant in scant clothing showed His truest form of humility, setting aside all to serve.
Jesus was not selective in whom He washed. He washed Peter's feet, the one who would denounce Him publicly. He knowingly washed Judas's feet, His betrayer. He washed those disciples feet who just moments before were talking about the greatest in heaven. And He did each out of love and a willing heart.
Suppose for a moment that the towel He wrapped around Himself to use to wash the disciples feet was some form of His robe. This clean robe of white would become stained with muddy water. Then He put it back on, resuming His title but now with a stained and dirty robe.
Jesus set aside heavenly glory to come to earth as a servant. His mission was to wash our own deformed lives and filthy hearts. To do this He washed our sins humbly as a servant, clothed Himself with the stains of our filth, and died on the cross as a criminal in our places.
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