John 13:3-5 & Philippians 2:5-8
“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, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 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.” (John 13:3-5)
I love that story. Jesus, knowing from where he had come – the form of God himself – and knowing where he was going – did what? Took a towel and knelt before his pupils and washed their dirty feet.
He humbled himself even to death. What if he had identified with us in all our humanity, except our death, as the Muslim says? A laughing baby cradled in lovely Mary’s arms, a carefree lad playing under gentle Joseph’s roof, a strong young artisan caring for his widowed mother and orphaned younger brothers and sisters – exemplary, perhaps even sinless, but surely not death?
The plan in his mind as he left heaven for that smelly stable included death above all else, that nadir of human experience, that farthest point from the image of God, embracing the very judgment of our rebel sin.
The vibrant life of John 1, dead.
The mighty creator of Col 1, decomposing.
The Eternal One of Heb 1, finished.
Not only so – death, Paul says, on a cross. It is one thing to die a hero in battle or even to die of old age or illness. But to die as a criminal, hanging naked and helpless before a mocking world. That’s the inside story according to Paul. But why was it told? This is the explosive meaning of Christmas – “Have this mind in you!” (Phillipians 2:5).
Being in the form of God – that’s who he was. But who am I? Who being educated, comfortable, busy about important things with certain rights: to my possessions, to my reputation, to my health, to my career, to my ambitions – what will I do about all that?
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).
Jesus emptied himself of his prerogatives- that which was his by right. We have trouble letting go of our pretenses (vs 3). Consider others better?! In church – that hypocritical loudmouth – treat him better than myself? When I am at work – that goof-off who shoves all the work off on me him better than me? Or on the street – treat that road hog like she was driving the presidential limousine? Even at home – that obnoxious kid brother, better than me? TREAT them that way, whether it’s true or not. Like Jesus did. In a manner we cannot even imagine, let alone attempt. But Jesus could. And did.
Jesus took the form of a servant. What is that like? See Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Be on the lookout, always planning for my own benefit, but always on the lookout, planning for the benefit of the others in my life.
The meaning of Christmas? Oh, it’s a multi-faceted star of exquisite beauty. But the inside story is this: Have the same mind-set Christ had when he left heaven for the womb of a Jewish girl- Letting go all pretense and prerogative. Deliberately assuming the role of servant. Pouring out all of life – even death, if need be, for the salvation of people: the people in your life and those to the ends of the earth.