Service 02: Wash Feet

Orientate

I’m not a very ‘huggy’ type of person. I can reciprocate a decent man hug when I need to, but I don’t tend to initiate them. Not sure why. I’m just not into physical closeness with non-family members. I don’t even like massages, so the idea of washing someone’s feet makes me feel uncomfortable. But the reason people didn’t like foot washing in Jesus’ day had nothing to do with their concerns about touching people. They were a very ‘huggy’ culture (at least with members of the same sex). Their problem was that feet were regarded as disgusting and only the least important person in the room (usually a slave) would do the necessary washing of dusty and sweaty feet (that would be right next to food as they had no chairs). When the disciples gathered for their last meal with Jesus before his death, there was no slave present, so their feet just didn’t get washed. No-one was keen to stoop to do such a job.

Explore: John 13:1-17

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 realise 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.

Journal

Journal for a few minutes on the following questions:

1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?

2. What do I want to discuss/explore further?

3. What do I need to do?

4. Why did Jesus wait for the meal to be served before he washed feet?

Reflect

Yesterday we considered Jesus’ humility displayed over the sweep of eternity. Today we’re looking at one small event in which Jesus showed the same heart. He was not only the disciples’ Teacher (their guru) but they were even beginning to realise that he was the Messiah (God’s deliverer for Israel). So if anyone in that group should not have been doing the foot washing it was clearly Jesus. You can picture the awkwardness in the room. They had been waiting for someone to volunteer but no one had and so they were all sitting on their filthy feet. Then up gets Jesus and starts washing feet. Imagine going to a political rally and finding the Prime Minister cleaning the toilet after you…

Of course, they should not have been surprised. I bet Jesus was dying to do it from the moment they arrived at dinner. But he waited so that his actions would have maximum impact. He didn’t have long left. He had to make the most of this teaching opportunity. I would imagine as he tenderly washed each man’s feet, he was whispering words of love and affirmation. This was the heart of Jesus. Soon he was going to go much further - laying down his life for them.

But this event reveals more than the beautiful servant heart of Jesus. He makes it very clear that this is our calling: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” We’re foot-washers. Clearly, washing feet is not a great need in our culture, but I think what Jesus is saying is that humble and often unrecognised service is our job, our role. There is great blessing for us as we humbly lay down our lives for the needs of others. This is our life in Jesus.

Pray

Keep working on my heart Jesus. May you give me opportunity to put this into practice today. I want to show your love by serving someone.

Respond

Just do it.