What Humility is Really All About

It was May 1975 and spring break was upon us.  I had a choice: go on a retreat with the Star Lake Bible Study I belonged to or spend a very boring week cleaning my apartment.  Which to choose, which to choose?!?!?  Of course I cut and ran for the camp out/retreat!  We had reserved the Hoh Campground, which is next to the La Push River.  Very pretty spot - in summer, unbelievably miserable in spring!

So we had two large fires going 24x7 and everyone lived within about 30 inches of either blaze!  The first night all of the elders were gathered and Bud asked what we ought to do with our time - as if nothing was planned?  Yup, to everyone's surprise there was nothing planned!  After a long period of thought I mentioned that I had never been baptized and two others commented the same.  Interestingly, there were two others in the larger group whom were unbaptized as well, and coincidentally, we five were the only ones to have brought swim suits!

Yeah, this incident is the one  that suddenly opened my eyes to there being NO COINCIDENCES.  I mean, what are the odds here?

So, the following day we five were baptized in the La Push River and then retired to the restrooms to change into something warm!  and Leonard Savage, a good friend, grabbed a towel and started drying my legs and feet.  I was horrified, I was humbled, I was left having no ability to even comment!

So, John 13:6-11

Which would you prefer?

• Poor and loving your job or rich and hating it?
• Having your flight delayed or arriving on time with no luggage?
• Lick a frog or a dollar bill?
• Wash someone else's feet or have them wash yours?

Yeah, not too many would choose to have their feet washed, because it is humiliating.  And this is really what today's post is about -  Humility.  Real humility means that not only can you dish it out but you can take it as well!

If you remember: the setting of this passage is the upper room, the last week of Jesus' life.  And the Apostles are arguing over whom is the most loved, the greatest, etc.  Jesus gets up, grabs a towel, a wash basin and shows what it means to be the greatest one in the room.  The servant of all.

In order to receive it - you have to put aside your pride.
Peter refused, he threw a hissy fit, "you may not wash my feet!"  Tradition dictated that this was not the role for the master, it was the role of the servants!  And, none of them were servants!

Humility is to receive the service of others.
Humility is to give the service to others.

Pride involves conceit, being impatient, being demanding - what all of the Apostles were demonstrating prior to this.

You have to be willing to admit you are eternally clean but practically dirty.....
Peter then changes his tune to "do all of me!"  Yeah, he realized how unclean he really was and need to be ritually cleansed.  And what better way than to have the Master, the Messiah, do this for him!  Awesome idea!  Not.

We are completely forgiven, Jesus paid for all of you sins - from your birth through the moment of your death.  ALL sin was paid for at the cross.  But we all continue to live in sin, like pigs in a mud bath!  Which brings to mind Bill Bright's "spiritual breathing", to live our lives such that we are continually breathing out confession for what we have just done wrong (again!) and breath back in God's forgiveness.  Simple, elegant, I love Bill Bright.

You have to see humility, it matters more than you know.
For all intents and purposes, Jesus looked just like an out of control Rabbi to the outside world.  But, he was doing what was required of him.

Anonymous acts do not equal insignificant acts.  Just think on that the next time you are in a toilet and discover the toilet paper is missing!  Yeah, small acts can make a real difference to you and your day.

Small acts of service are what eventually lead to Jesus being our Savior.  And that  will require humility on your part.

Jesus is coming for your feet, are you ready to receive him ..... ?