Foot Washing

Jesus never ceased to amaze the disciples. He was always doing something unexpected. And even at the end, when He was getting ready to go to the cross, He does something astonishing during the Last Supper. John 13:4-17 tells us that He began to wash the disciples’ feet. To say it must have blown their minds is an understatement. People in that day wore sandals, and they walked along dirty, dusty roads. No matter how fastidious someone was, there was no way he could keep his feet clean. In truth, feet were generally always filthy. And so it was customary to wash your feet when entering someone’s house. And if that house was a prosperous one, then the washing of feet was a kindness the owner had one of his lowliest servants perform.

Jesus knew that even those who follow Him in this life will get dirty feet; sullied by the muck and mire of a sinful world. And He was showing how He desires to cleanse us from these things. And He showed it in a most humble and touching way. Here is God, the very Creator of the Universe, stooping down and handling their grimy feet. What love! What excellent character! Even after reading it dozens of times it leaves me in awe, for it shows me we have a God who is not afraid to touch our dirt, to do what it takes to make us clean and whole and beautiful.

John goes on to tell us that Jesus then commissions His disciples to wash the feet of their fellowman. That’s us. We are both disciples and ones needing a foot washing. We are to minister to each other in love, and allow others to do the same for us. It’s not a concept well received in this modern day. We don’t want to be “foot washers.” We want to be stars. We want to go on American Idol. We want to drive big cars and live in big houses. In short, we want the finer things in life and that doesn’t include washing someone’s feet. Because that’s a messy job. It means stooping and handling dirt. It means being a humble servant. It means not caring if we are admired or appreciated.

But Jesus isn’t about to let us off the hook. He told His disciples, “A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him.” (John 13:16 Amplified). And that even applies to His 21^st Century disciples.

Oh, that God would make us all foot washers.

Until next time,

Sylvia