Self Denial and the Life of Jesus

Losing to Gain

In order to become disciples who follow Jesus, we must first get over ourselves. That’s what this chapter is all about: self-denial. There are many places we could go in the Bible to learn about how Jesus exemplified this, but for now we’ll limit ourselves to just one: the moment where Jesus washed his disciples’ feet.

John 13:3–5 says,

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

The idea of a master washing his follower’s feet was so offensive that Peter refuses to let Jesus do it: “You will never wash my feet” (John 13:8). Footwear wasn’t what it is today, and most people had very rudimentary sandals. That means that one’s feet became very unpleasant as they traveled about the dusty roads of Judea. Not only were the roads dusty, but oxen and donkeys would likely leave plenty of “land mines” along the way, and stepping in one in some point was likely inevitable. Feet then were like feet now: a little gross. That’s why one of the primary roles of a servant was to wash their master’s feet.

In fact, it was a job that was reserved not only for a servant, but for the very lowest ones.

Imagine the hush that fell upon the disciples when Jesus suddenly stood up and started to wrap a towel around himself. That hush would turn to confusion as he picked up the water basin; and it may even turn to disgust when he finally knelt down and started washing their feet. Jesus was upsetting the social order here. He was humiliating himself— or was he?

Perhaps we are the ones who have made fools of ourselves by supposing that life is all about generating more acclaim for us. Maybe we are the ones who are out of step with the way things actually are: that those who find life are those who deny themselves, take up a cross, and follow the way of Jesus.

Where do you most resist denying yourself to follow Jesus?

What would it cost you to put it down?

What might you gain if you did?