December 6

So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him. — John 13:4-5 BSB

There are many images of Jesus: the Holy Child in the manger, the Redeemer on the cross, the Conqueror holding the keys of life and death—but none surpasses the image of Christ as the servant with a towel and basin. Here we see the lesson of humble service. Jesus didn’t think His holy hands were too dignified to wash the feet of His disciples. Yet many of us consider ourselves too refined or too important to stoop to such humble acts of service! This picture of Christ stands as a New Testament rebuke to all pride and pretension.

Our service should be personal. Christ washed His disciples’ feet with His own hands. Too often, we want to serve by proxy. We believe in helping others but delegate the task to someone else. We might donate money to support a missionary or pay for someone to visit the sick, but we are reluctant to get our own hands involved. This is not the lesson Christ teaches us. We are called to serve with our own hands.