The Girdle of Humility

“All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (I Peter 5:5-6)

These noble words of Peter surely take us back to the Upper Room in Jerusalem, to that night when Jesus performed His act of majestic humility in washing the disciples’ feet. As Jesus proceeded with His lowly task, His action was interrupted by a significant conversation between Himself and Peter. As Jesus knelt before him, Peter asked a question with great shock and disbelief, “Lord, dost thou wash my feet?” Peter presumed to know better than Jesus what He should do, and his question was intended to stop Jesus from washing his feet.

Peter wants to tell Jesus what to do. We must recognize that Jesus―though servant of all―is still God’s appointed leader. He won’t allow Peter to monopolize this situation and set things on the wrong course. So Jesus replied, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter.” The Lord knows best what He is doing in His dealings with His disciples.

But Peter stubbornly declared, “Thou shalt never wash my feet.�