Today I will look for opportunities to serve—and I will serve whatever the task. “Footwashing for Beginners.” I think that should be a required course at every church and definitely a course required for every new believer. Why? Because the moment we enter the kingdom and family of God, we need his help in understanding and then living out a basic and very countercultural principle: we are called to serve—and the Suffering Servant himself calls us to that. Jesus uses a figure of speech right out of dry, dusty Palestine where open sandals were standard footwear. Animals—whose masters were seldom concerned about where those critters left their waste—shared the same unpaved roads. Everyone’s feet needed to be washed before reclining at a table and sharing a meal! None of the disciples at the Last Supper, however, was willing to get down on his knees, pitcher and towel in hand, and wash the feet of his fellow disciples. Jesus himself seized this teachable moment. The meal was barely underway when the King of kings and Lord of lords, knowing the spiritual, emotional, and physical turmoil that would soon tear his soul apart, stood up, removed his outer clothing, wrapped a towel around his waist, and began washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:4-5). Peter objected, realizing that one of the Twelve—every single one of the Twelve—should have done the service. But Jesus had known their hearts—and ours: full of pride, hungry for status, well aware of tasks that are beneath our dignity. Jesus knew what it meant to be a servant. I wish we all could more readily follow his footsteps.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 14:37:58 +0000