What He Knew and What He Did

“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. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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 13:1-5

“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

How unlike us men was Jesus. He knew He was the Son of God, that the time had come to bear the weight of the sin of the world and die, and He willingly set aside His rights, His status and glory, to humble Himself and wash feet. This perfect God-man chose to die an excruciating, sinner’s death on a sinner’s cross. He who knew no sin loved His own to the end… (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Knowing what we know about such humility, such a love, how do we worship, how do we love? How can we do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves? How can we look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others? Only by having the mind and heart of Christ, which is accomplished only by the cross. (Philippians 2:3-4)

“O teach me what it meaneth,
That cross uplifted high,
With One, the Man of Sorrows,
Condemned to bleed and die!
O teach me what it cost Thee
To make a sinner whole;
And teach me, Savior, teach me
The value of a soul!

O teach me what it meaneth,
Thy love beyond compare,
The love that reacheth deeper
Than depths of self-despair!
Yes, teach me, till there gloweth
In this cold heart of mine
Some feeble, pale reflection
Of that pure love of Thine.

O teach me what it meaneth,
For I am full of sin,
And grace alone can reach me,
And love alone can win.
O teach me, for I need Thee,
I have no hope beside—
The chief of all the sinners
For whom the Savior died!

O infinite Redeemer!
I bring no other plea;
Because Thou dost invite me
I cast myself on Thee.
Because Thou dost accept me
I love and I adore;
Because Thy love constraineth,
I’ll praise Thee evermore!” ~ Lucy A. Bennett (1850-1927)

My Savior, may I know much of You in all I do, how I worship, and the way I love.