As I Have Done
Jesus' example of humility in washing His disciples' feet is a call to His followers to serve one another selflessly and without expectation of recognition or reward.
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the profound humility demonstrated by Jesus in John 13, where He washes the feet of His disciples, showcasing the full extent of His love. This act, typically reserved for servants, highlights the contrast between worldly desires for recognition and the selfless service that Jesus exemplified. Yohannan reflects on his own struggles with the desire for esteem in ministry, urging believers to follow Christ's example of humility and service to one another. The sermon calls for a shift in perspective, encouraging Christians to embrace a life of humility rather than seeking personal glory.
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In John 13, we see the beautiful place of humility the Son of God took before His own disciples. The passage reads,
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.
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.
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" (John 13:1, 4-5, 12-15, NIV).
In the Asian culture, it is difficult to even grasp this kind of event taking place! A master stooping down to wash his servants' feet?! Only slaves do that! Yet here we see the Creator of the universe, the Lord of lords and the King of kings who became the Son of Man, bending down to wash the dusty feet of His disciples.
Everywhere you travel across this world, you will find people driven to exalt themselves, some in a blatant manner and some in subtle ways, but all somehow driven to be recognized and known. But in John 13, we see the exact opposite happening. The One who, above all else, should be exalted, here is stooping low. And not low before powerful kings and rulers, but before ordinary men--His own disciples--men rough around the edges, feet worn and dusty from days of travel. All for one reason: "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15, emphasis mine).
In the early years of my serving the Lord, I struggled with this inner desire to be recognized and esteemed, as I'm sure many of us do, even in Christian service. However, this should really have no place in the life of the child of God.
Sermon Outline
- The Humility of the Son of God
- The Culture of Self-Exaltation
- Following Jesus' Example
- The importance of humility in Christian service
- The struggle to overcome self-exaltation
Key Quotes
“I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” — K.P. Yohannan
“You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am” — K.P. Yohannan
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- We must focus on serving others and following Jesus' example of humility in our Christian service.
- Humility is essential in Christian service because it allows us to serve others selflessly and without expectation of recognition or reward.
- To overcome self-exaltation, we must focus on serving others and following Jesus' example of humility, as seen in John 13.