Ponte Trucha: The Character of a Lowly Man

During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 
John 13: 2-5

The character of a lowly man, one who is humble and contrite of heart. One who, though He has the strength, the aptitude, and the fortitude to react, to make a defense for himself, to state his case and win, he does the complete opposite. In humility of soul, humility of mind, humility of character, this man allows his actions to speak for themselves. Never needing to utter a word. The pinnacle of a lowly man, a description of perfect humility, can be summed up in one name:
Jesus
The Son of Man, the Messiah, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Risen One, the One who conquered Sin and Death, the Alpha, the Omega, the Son of God, the Lamb Who Takes Away the Sins of the World...
Jesus, though He was fully God, lived His life in perfect obedience to the Father as fully man. According to Philippians 2:6-8, "...Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the One whom the Bible speaks of as being clothed in Majesty, whose face we are unable to look at because of the holiness that exists in one place, whose presence we falter at, prostrating ourselves before Him even at His passing. God incarnate, came as a servant. One in which the world did not behold nor exalt, He was born in a lowly state amongst animals and died amongst thieves. And yet, even on His journey to the cross, as He celebrated His last Passover on earth with the very men He had come to know intimately, more so who came to know Him intimately, He humbled Himself through the washing of their feet. I often wonder what He thought as He humbly bowed himself before each of His twelve disciples. Judas, the servant of Satan, knowing that He would betray Him for very little money. Peter, knowing his zealousness, who would deny Him, not once, not twice, but three times. Each man would cower at the perverseness of the floggings, at the pain of the cross. No one would come to His defense, no one would remain loyal. And yet, knowing this, Christ stooped down and washed the feet of these men. This is not a simple act of true character, but an act of perfect humility. Love unbridled, love unmeasured, agape- Godly love.
Even more miraculous than the washing of the Disciple's feet by God, very God, is what Jesus says a bit further down in the same passage, "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him." (John 13:14-16)We are called to have the same character, unbridled humility. "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 2:5) And more times then not, my attitude is the complete opposite. I exist believing that I deserve something, that I have a right to be treated well. That I have a right to my opinions and to my thoughts. That I have a right to live as I want to live. More so, that my Christianity deserves me the right to live without bridles. And yet, according to the Scripture, I am a δοῦλος, a slave. I have no rights! I am to serve as Christ served. I am to love as Christ loved. I am to give up of myself as Christ gave up of Himself. So that just as the Father was glorified in the life of Christ, others can marvel at this phenomenon and understand that the life I live has been given over fully to God, it is no longer mine, and thus it is Christ and Christ alone that receives the glory.
What is it that defines my character? What is that is being written on the epitaph of my own life? Is it humility and lowliness of mind or is it pride and self-righteousness? Who is that I serve? Myself? Or  My Great and Terrible God?

"WHAT DEFINES OUR CHARACTER IS HOW WE TREAT THOSE WHO CAN DO NOTHING FOR US, THOSE WHO HAVE DONE SOMETHING AGAINST US,  AND THOSE WHO WE KNOW WILL BETRAY US"