Here is a remarkable story from the Blessed Injeel (John 13:1-17) that shows us something unexpected about character of Hazrat Isa ( ع ).
Hazrat Isa ( ع ) and his disciples were at supper. The Devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, the thought of betraying Hazrat Isa ( ع ).
Hazrat Isa ( ع ) knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from Allah and was going to Allah. So he rose from the table, took off his outer clothes, and tied a towel around his waist.
Then he poured some water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?”
Hazrat Isa ( ع ) answered him, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.”
Peter said, “Never at any time will you wash my feet!”
“If I do not wash your feet,” he answered, “you will no longer be my disciple.”
Simon Peter answered, “Lord, do not wash only my feet, then! Wash my hands and head, too!”
Hazrat Isa ( ع ) said, “Those who have taken a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet. All of you are clean—all except one.” (He already knew who was going to betray him; that is why he said, “All of you, except one, are clean.”)
After Hazrat Isa ( ع ) had washed their feet, he put his outer garment back on and returned to his place at the table.
“Do you understand what I have just done to you?” he asked. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and it is right that you do so, because that is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another’s feet.
“I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you.
“I am telling you the truth: no slaves are greater than their master, and no messengers are greater than the one who sent them.
“Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!”
His character is clearly revealed
Both the Holy Qur’an and the Blessed Injeel agree that Hazrat Isa ( ع ) has the heart of a servant.
إِنْ هُوَ إِلاَّ عَبْدٌ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ مَثَلاً لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
“He is only a servant we gave blessings. We made him a proverb for the people of Israel.”
Holy Qur’an | Al Zukhruf 43:59
قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آَتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا
He said, “I am Allah’s servant. He has given me the book and made me a prophet.
Holy Qur’an | Mariam 19:30
لَنْ يَسْتَنْكِفَ الْمَسِيحُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِلَّهِ وَلاَ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَمَنْ يَسْتَنْكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعً
The Messiah will not disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor will the angels who have been brought near. Allah will gather everyone who proudly disdains his service.
Holy Qur’an | Al Nisa 4:172
ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν µορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁµοιώµατι ἀνθρώπων γενόµενος· καὶ σχήµατι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος
“but emptied himself by taking on the true nature of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human appearance.”
Blessed Injeel | Philippians 2:7
Both the Holy Qur’an and the Blessed Injeel and the Qur’an agree that Hazrat Isa ( ع ) was truly a slave/servant. Even though he has many other titles, such as ‘prophet’ and the ‘prefered messenger’.
What do you think about the story?
- Is there something you like in the story?
- Or something in it that doesn’t seem right?
- Does this story remind you of the way people sometimes behave?
- Maybe it starts you thinking about God.
- What does this story seem to suggest you do? (I think you know that God will bless you read the teaching of Hazrat Isa ( ع ) and obey and copy him.)
Would Hazrat Isa ( ع ) serve you? How could you copy him by serving other people?