John 13:1-17 -- “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 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 also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, 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.’ ”
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The picture of our Lord Jesus Christ washing the feet of His disciples is, for me, one of the most powerful images of Him presented to us in the Gospels. In these scene, our Savior puts himself lower than all others by kneeling to the ground and serving His friends in the humblest of fashions.
Even in today’s standards of daily showers, moisture-absorbing socks and breathable shoes, washing someone else’s feet is not at appetizing proposition. At the end of a long day, almost none of us has feet which are a pleasant sight...or smell. Now go back two thousand years. Your feet were barely covered in a couple straps of leather, if you were fortunate. Most likely, you went around barefoot all day. The dust, grime and who-knows-what else would become caked and dried on your feet over the course of the day or maybe even days. Washing someone else’s feet was the lowliest of jobs. To do this was seen as the ultimate act of service. Once complete, the person whose feet were now clean felt refreshed and new.
This is why Peter reacted in the way he did. There was no way he was going to let his teacher, the man whom he knew was Messiah, the Son of God, kneel down before him and wash his feet. Once again, we see Peter behaving in the way we all would have. But fortunately, Jesus tells him the lessons to be learned in this act of service. He gives us the perfect example of how we should be with each other. When Christ tells Peter that he must allow this act of humility or he will have no part of a life with Jesus, Peter goes all in. He wants every part of him to be for Christ.
If you are lucky, your church offers foot washing during its Maundy Thursday celebration today. To experience this act of service as well as to give it can have a dramatic impact on all who take part; washing, washed or even just observing. There are very few things we can do in our earthly lives, which Christ also did. We cannot turn a few loaves into a meal for thousands, restore a blind man’s sight with a mere word nor can we bring the dead back to life. But, the big things, the important things, we can do. We can finish the work He started by spreading the Good News to others. We can break the bread and pour the wine of His remembrance, sharing it with each other. We can make ourselves lowly, serving our friends with humble care.
So, today, if you have the opportunity, participate in the worship and celebration of the Last Supper. Consider approaching the altar at the time when called, sitting and accepting the act of service. Then, offer the same gift to another.
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