Skip to main content

Washing Feet

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 Hm. - John 13: 1-5

When was the last time you washed someone’s feet? For most of us, our answer may be never. For others, we have to draw back to a time when our children were tiny and needed someone to wash them. Maybe we have been a part of ceremony at a church where we washed feet.

A few years ago, we held a volunteer appreciation night at Westside Christian Church. One of the events of the evening involved the elders washing the feet of the volunteers. Of course, it was intended to be symbolic of the scripture selection referenced above. I recall it being a strange experience. Afterall, washing of other's feet is not common in our culture. Furthermore, I really don’t like feet. Most, if not all of them, are ugly and many stink. I wouldn’t choose to wash feet. 

The washing of feet was a matter of hygiene in Jesus' day. The climate was sandy and dusty. Most wore sandals and others walked barefoot. Feet got dirty frequently and needed to be washed. Foot washing was, also, a sign of hospitality. Guests would enter a home and a servant would cleanse their feet for them from the journey. 

Jesus chose to step away from a significant meal to wash His closest friends' and followers' feet. This action had major significance. For the disciples, the washing of their feet was not a job for their Messiah. It was work for a servant. But for Jesus, washing His disciples feet was exactly what He was supposed to do.  

Jesus had “all things under his power.” That means Jesus had the power to stop the punishment and pain that was to come. But that wasn’t what His Father sent Him to do. He sent Him to serve. He sent Him to clean up a mess. He sent Him to wash feet, all feet. Consider this, Jesus even washed the feet of the man who would soon after betray Him and the man who would deny knowing Him. 

When we choose to follow Jesus, we choose to live like Him, to love like Him. That means washing feet, the cleaner ones and the dirtier ones. 

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Right In Front of Me

There is one character in the story of the night of Jesus' arrest that sticks out. He seems insignificant to what is happening. He’s almost an interruption in the story. He is only mentioned by name in one of the four gospels, even though the description of what occurred is in all four gospels.  Malchus is his name. He works for the people who want Jesus dead. His job, with his compadres, is to seize Jesus and bring him back to the high priest. There he would be subject to questioning, a trial of sorts.  As Malchus and his posse are approaching, Peter takes action to protect Jesus. “With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear” (Matthew 26:51). Jesus immediately tells Peter and the rest of his disciples to stop with the violence.  I wonder what Malchus thought at this point. I imagine his was in shock, I would guess he was surprised. He had just been attacked and surely is bleeding ...

Glow Differently

I saw this quote recently, “You glow differently when your confidence is fueled by belief in yourself instead of validation from others.” I found myself wrestling with it. I completely agree with the concept that the validation of my worth is not established by the thoughts of others. While I think a positive self image is important, I do not think that it is what really makes me “glow differently.” I hope I glow differently because of whom I believe in, rather than what I believe of myself.  The author of Titus says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7) . Love and kindness entered the world in the form of a m...

Grits

This past Saturday I got the chance to catch up with my friend at breakfast. We connected months ago over grits, of all things. I learned he really didn't care for grits. Turns out his parents used to make him eat them quite often and in many forms. As he has grown older he's made the conscious decision, he's had enough grits for a lifetime. On the other hand, I really enjoy grits. They are a wonderful breakfast food with butter, salt, and pepper. For dinner, you can't beat some good shrimp and grits. I have a recipe for jambalaya grits that will put a smile on anyone's face. It is like jambalaya meets cheese grits. Yum! My friend and I joke about grits everytime we see each other. I offer him some and he politely refuses. Of course, I respect his wishes and don't give him any grits. How do you offer someone grits? Do you insist they eat and like them because you eat them? Do you put them on their plate anyway? Do you treat them differently bec...