Christlike Humility

Worship

"King of Kings" (Hillsong Worship)

"Christ Be Magnified" (Cody Carnes)

Worldly View vs. Kingdom View

Worldly View: Humility is weakness or low self-esteem. Success is defined by making a name for yourself, flexing your status, avoiding dirty work, and ensuring other people serve you. If you stoop too low, people will take advantage of you.

Kingdom View: Humility is power under control and total security in your identity. Real authority in God’s kingdom is measured by how low you are willing to stoop to serve others.

Introduction

Status in middle and high school: follower counts, starting spots, clothing brands, seat location at lunch. Culture tells you to climb, flex, and ensure others notice you. In the world, status is defined by how many people look up to you. In God's kingdom, Jesus turns that upside down: He didn't climb; He stooped.

Exposition

We are going to look at a familiar passage in John 13:1–17 where Jesus washes the disciples' feet)

John 13:1–17 ESV

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

1. Humility begins with confidence (vv. 1–3)

John 13:1–3 ESV

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,

Jesus knew "that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God." His humility didn't stem from a lack of authority or poor self-image. It came from absolute security in his relationship with the Father.

You don't have to fight for status, demand respect, or protect your ego when your identity is completely secure in Christ.

2. Humility takes the initiative (vv. 3–5)

John 13:3–5 ESV

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

In the 1st century, foot-washing was reserved for the lowest household slave. None of the disciples volunteered for the job. Jesus voluntarily gets up from dinner, lays aside his outer garments, and wraps a towel around His waist.

Humility isn't an emotion, it’s voluntary action that costs you comfort or pride.

Being Christlike means actively looking for unglamorous, necessary tasks that are "beneath you" and doing them. Then, when asked “why?” pointing to Christ.

3. Humility demands a response (vv. 12–17)

John 13:12–17 ESV

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

After sitting back down, Jesus asks, "Do you understand what I have done to you?" He states that if He — their Lord and Teacher — washed their feet, they are commanded to wash one another's feet.

Knowing this truth is meaningless unless it is practiced (v. 17). It's easy to admire Jesus' humility from a distance. Being Christlike requires actively picking up towels in your daily life.

Supporting Scriptures

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Mark 10:45 ESV

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Main Idea

Real authority in God’s kingdom is measured by how low you are willing to stoop to serve others.

Challenge

Pick one concrete way this week to serve someone at home or school in a task that is "beneath you" or dirty, completely in secret—without telling anyone, posting about it, or asking for credit.

Small Group Discussion Questions

In your school, sports team, or friend group, what are the subtle ways people "flex" their status to get respect?

Jesus was able to stoop low because He was completely secure in who He was (v. 3). How does being insecure make it harder for us to be humble or serve others?

Why do you think none of the disciples offered to wash anyone else's feet before dinner started? What kept them back?

What is the practical difference between true biblical humility and just having low self-esteem or putting yourself down?

What is one specific "foot washing" task in your daily life—something necessary but unglamorous—that people usually try to avoid doing?

Share a specific way you can put today’s challenge into practice this week at home or school. How will you make sure it stays secret?