He showed them the full extent of his love... John 13:1

Jesus repeatedly revealed the extent, or length of his love. And Scripture says it all centres on the words ‘he humbled himself.’

He divested himself of his glory, his rights, his prerogatives as God and instead wrapped himself in a human form. He humbled himself to become like us in every way.

He was born in a cow shed to a peasant couple. Much of his early life was hidden in Egypt. He touched the leper, he ate with notorious sinners, and prostitutes were his friends. He did not need to appear ‘significant.’ He already knew he was.

He washed the dirty feet of his bickering disciples – divesting himself of his role as Master, and taking the place of a slave.

He was stripped and tortured, all dignity shredded and tossed aside. He humbled himself to death – even the shameful death on a cross.

How could he do this? What brought him to pay such a price?

1. He was full of intense compassion for the Father’s lost sons and daughters and would do whatever it took to bring them home.
2. He trusted absolutely the Father’s wisdom and his plan of redemption - and his own part in it. His sense of purpose allowed no self-interest.
3. He knew he was beloved by his Father, and he would never lose that love, whatever others did to him.

Humility is a beautiful thing. It is a gift we will need from Jesus in order to touch the world with redemptive love as he did.

"Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself one way or the other at all." William Temple