The most amazing thing about Jesus is the example he set as a humble servant God.
On the night before he died, Jesus met with his disciples to share the Passover meal. He took a towel and basin of water and washed the dust from the streets off of their feet. This was normally the task of the lowest servant in the house. Peter was offended that Jesus would stoop so low. When he finished, Jesus explained, "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." (John 13:13-17 NIV)
Jesus set the example of humbling ourselves to serve others, but washing feet was nothing compared to the example he set the following day. Jesus suffered the pain and humiliation of death on a cross. He sacrificed his life to pay the penalty for our sins, so we could be reconciled to God.
Paul explained how we should follow Jesus' example in Philippians 2:
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 3:11 NIV)
The most amazing thing about this passage is the revelation that Jesus left his position in heaven as the equal to God the Father and humbled himself to become a man. Then he humbled himself even further to take the role of a servant. Then he was willing to suffer the pain and humiliation of death on a cross to pay the price for all of the sins ever committed. Because of this, God the Father raised him up to a highly exalted position so everyone in heaven and earth should worship him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you follow Jesus' example.
If you have questions or comments, please EMAIL me at rodney@rodsgarden.50megs.com
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