“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 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.” — John 13:1-5 NIV
John 13 begins with a statement that feels almost too big to fully take in:
“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…” — John 13:3
Jesus knew exactly who He was.
He knew where He came from.
He knew where He was going.
He knew all authority had been given to Him.
And what does He do with that knowledge?
He gets up…
Takes off His outer garment…
Wraps Himself in a towel.
If we’re honest, that’s not how we expect authority to behave.
We’re used to people using their position to be served.
But Jesus reveals something different about the Kingdom of God:
True authority is expressed through humility.
When Jesus laid aside His outer garment, it was more than a practical step—it was symbolic.
It reflects what He had already done before He ever stepped into that room.
He laid aside glory.
He left Heaven.
He took on flesh.
Not because He had to—but because He chose to.
“Though He was in the form of God… He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant…” — Philippians 2:6–7
And the towel?
It’s such a small, almost insignificant thing.
It doesn’t protect.
It doesn’t elevate.
It doesn’t draw attention.
It simply prepares someone to serve.
Jesus didn’t come wrapped in splendor that impressed the world.
He came wrapped in humility that saved it.
And that challenges us—because we often want both:
We want to be known and to be honored.
We want to be seen and to be served.
But Jesus shows us that the pathway of the Kingdom looks different.
It looks like laying things down.
Letting go of status.
Choosing humility even when we don’t have to.
Not because we don’t matter—but because we are secure enough in God that we don’t need to prove that we do.
And here’s the beauty of it:
Jesus didn’t lose anything by humbling Himself.
He knew He would return to the Father.
He knew glory was still His.
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,” — Philippians 2:8-9 NIV
He knew that we had so much to gain from what He came to earth to do:
Peace with God
Forgiveness for our sins
A loving and powerful relationship with God
Victory over death
The chance to live in His presence for eternity
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16 NIV
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” — John 1:12 NIV
*also read Ephesians 1:7-8 & 2:13
That means humility, in God’s Kingdom, is never a loss—it’s a seed.
When we serve…
When we lower ourselves…
When we choose love over pride…
We are walking in the very nature of Christ, loving like He loves.
And we can do it with confidence—because like Jesus, we know where we’re going.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” — Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
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