PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1 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.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 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.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:1-17, NIV)
REFLECTIONS:
This is one of the most used passages to encourage us to serve one another. Rightfully so. Jesus, King of Kings, humbles himself to perform the menial task of washing His disciples’ feet. It was quite common in those days to either wash your own feet or have a lowly servant wash them after traveling through the dust and dirt. To have your Rabbi wash your feet… well, that just didn’t happen!
Keep in mind, these were grown men’s feet. Feet that had seen not only the dirty, dusty paths of city and country, but also feet that had danced among the caught fish on the bottoms of boats. Freshly caught fish, yes, but still dead and stinky fish. Sweaty, dirty, stinky, calloused feet. And who even knows what kind of sores they may have had!! Blisters, cuts, scabs… you get the picture, yes? So there are these 12 burly men with their feet. And Jesus starts to kneel before each man and tenderly wash every foot. Each man. Every foot. Even the feet of the man who would walk to the chief priests and sell Him out. Yeah, that guy.
I don’t know about you, but I struggle to serve/love well the people who love me; I’m wondering what I would do if I was faced with the situation Jesus was. He knew Judas was about to betray Him. It wasn’t even a matter of Judas had hurt Him in the past and this was a way Jesus could show forgiveness. Jesus knew that this man was the gateway to His death and He still served him.
When you wash another’s feet, that person is literally looking down at you. There is an awkwardness that transpires, as both struggle to maintain eye contact in what is a very vulnerable interaction. The transaction that takes place in those moments of ministering to and receiving from is holy. So, to wash the feet of one you know will betray you—who will open you up to the worst emotional, spiritual, and physical abuse possible—that is mind-boggling. You see, this wasn’t just a moment that Jesus could compartmentalize. It wasn’t something He agreed to do and then would proclaim later how He was willing to sacrifice His pride to wash Judas’ feet because it was the “right” thing to do. This wasn’t just an act of love and humility for Him… simply something to “get” through. Jesus was honored to wash the feet of His betrayer because He loved him. And as He washed Judas’ feet, His eyes revealed that love. Jesus was not only vulnerable in the physical position of being lower than Judas at that moment, He was also emotionally exposed. He willingly placed Himself at Judas’ mercy.
That is submission. That is power.
Jesus didn’t have to sacrifice His pride because He had given it to His Father a while back. Yes, it was a sacrificial act of humility to wash the feet of His disciples. The action, however, was the result of His previously surrendered heart. It is often said that we need to just do the deed and our heart will catch up. I guess I disagree with this because I really don’t see this playing out in Jesus’ life. I see Him surrendering His heart and will, thus enabling His actions to be filled with power and truth; that is also what I see Him calling us to.
Even those who would harm us—to the point of death—cannot win against the power of Christ’s example of humility to us. When He says that the slave is not greater than the master, or the one who is sent greater than the one who sends, He is speaking to us to know our place but it is because He understood His place. He understood He was not greater than God, His Father; the One who had sent Him to love even those overcome by the devil.
Wrestle with me, ok? This is a painful gospel, to die to ourselves, but it is the only gospel I see. I believe there are times when boundaries are appropriate as we negotiate our interactions with others. Christ exhibited boundaries during those times when He needed to care for Himself; to make sure He was fully empowered for His interactions with the crowds. And yet… here He is, serving His betrayer. Nothing but compassion. Nothing but humility.
POINT OF ACTION:
Wash someone’s feet. No, seriously. Wash someone’s feet, after your heart is in a place of willing submission. If you are married, wash your spouse’s feet; if you have children, wash their feet; if you are single wash a friend’s feet. If you like to double-up on challenges, wash the feet of someone who has harmed you. And if you are unable to find someone’s feet to wash then take the symbolic approach. Lower yourself in interaction with someone… maybe even that co-worker who’s been getting on your last nerve. And I don’t mean perform some acts of kindness. I mean lower yourself. Pray for them. Pray for them to be honored. Pray for them to be respected. Even above you. And then honor them. Respect them. Let your transformed heart guide your attitude towards them.
PRAYER:
Jesus, You are our Holy God that lowered Yourself into a fleshly body so that You might identify with us. You are the example we need in order to do or be anything. Sometimes I give myself a cop out because I say, well, yeah, You are GOD! But remind me, in Your faithfulness, that You have given me everything I need to fulfill… to carry out… the exact same attitude that You had while you walked on this earth. There is nothing that You did that I cannot, in Your power, also do. Empower me… empower us… to submit to anyone and everyone You would desire. Change my heart, oh God.
WHO AM I?
I am Beth Peeples and we are enjoying our annual trip to Estes Park, CO this week. Here is our view from our bedroom.
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