4/24 John 13:3-4

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.

The perspective that Jesus had only comes from God. Jesus understood that His Father had given everything into His hands; therefore, He could lose nothing. He understood that He came from God and was going back to God. That is why this world had nothing worth clinging to. With these two realities in mind, Jesus dressed in a servant's apron. The angels must have gathered to wonder at such humility. Jews used foreign slaves to do this job, for sandaled feet that walked through the same streets that animals traveled could be quite disgusting. Can you grasp the wonder of God's own Son washing the filth from the feet of men who were about to abandon Him?

Yet this condescension was nothing compared to what He would do the very next day when He took upon Himself the sins of humanity. I imagine the angels were more horrified than awed at that sight. The real filth in this world is sin, and it carries the germs of spiritual death. No choice will ever show more humility, grace, and love than the cross of Jesus.

When will we understand that all things are ours in Jesus? (1 Corinthians 3:22) When will we see that we came from God and are returning to God? I'm not trying to put us on par with Jesus, for He is eternal and one with God. Yet these basic facts are true for every follower of Jesus. When we grasp the reality of these truths, we will be free to serve, for we will realize we can lose nothing of real value. We have everything to give-and yet we still have the greatest gift after we give it to someone else. We know where we're from and where we're going, so we are free to let go of the things of this world.

Prayer: Lord, please help us to see that in You all things are ours. Help us see where we are from and where we are going so that we might not cling to this world but instead follow Your example of service (John 13:14, 17).