Immediately after telling the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying at the temple, Jesus said, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” We see this truth revealed in Jesus’ own life as he “humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on the cross” after which “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” Of all the characteristics of our Savior, his humility reveals most about what leads to a life that pleases God. How did he do it? What path did he take that he calls his disciples to travel? The familiar passage in Philippians 2 reveals a couple of things: Jesus “made himself nothing” and Jesus took “the very nature of a servant.”
The humility of Christ stands in stark opposition to the spirit of the world. Who wants to become nothing? Who wants to be a servant? Who wants to be last? Who wants to be least like a little child? Who wants to consider others better than self? Who wants to wash feet? Who wants to be humiliated? In a society that prides itself on being proud, we are taught to strive to become important. Those often viewed as successful are served and they are considered successful because they are first. To be least equates with failure and to consider others better than myself would make me dishonest… for deep down I know I am better than most 
. The practice of washing feet has little meaning and humiliation is reserved for fools.
The path of humility is the way of the cross. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Andrew Murray, the South African pastor who ministered during the mid 1800′s and early 1900′s wrote, “This is the true self-denial to which our Savior calls us: the acknowledgment that self has nothing good in it except as an empty vessel that God must fill.” Perhaps this is what it means to become “poor in spirit” – to realize there is nothing good in me apart from God. No one can admit such a thing without His help, but once we see our sin and our need for repentance, the gospel reveals hope. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
True humility does not come from focusing on our sin but by focusing on the One who delivers us. He paid the price and he invites us to come learn from him, for he is “gentle and humble in heart.” As he emptied himself and lived a life full of his Father, he beckons us to empty ourselves and live a life full of him. As we clothe ourselves with Christ, we clothe ourselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” How different the humble will look in this world!
“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” I Peter 5:5-6
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17