The other day, as I was leaving my Dads, I said: "Anything I can do for you, before I go home, Dad?" He hesitantly said , "Well,I hate to even ask, but I really need my toenails trimmed and I just can't seem to lean over that far anymore." I had no problem trimming my Dad's toenails. He is my Dad,I love him, and will do anything I can to help him. As I was on my way home after doing this deed, the picture of Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples, came to mind. I did not hesitate to trim my Dad's toenails, because of who he was to me. Jesus did not hesitate to wash the disciples feet because of who they were to Him, His friends. These were the guys that had helped Jesus in His everyday life, they had more then likely cooked for him, and all the guys, they had found food when needed, they had taken care of the finances, (Although Judas was the treasurer) Jesus had given them what they needed spiritually, mentally, emotionally, but they had helped Him in the day to day needs of life here on Earth. They were close, brothers, friends. They shared moments that only they could laugh about, times when funny things happen. You know, THOSE TIMES that you remember you whole life, but others who weren't there don't understand.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” John 13:6-9 NLT
I love reading about Peter. He was known as the "hot head" of the group , he had a burning desire to protect Jesus and all the "Guys". He loved them especially Jesus, because of His loyalty He let his emotions show, he would attack anyone or anything that came against this group. He said whatever he thought, regardless of what anyone thought. So here is Jesus washing the feet of His friends, and He comes to Peter and we all know what Peter thinks about this. Peter and the rest of this group were starting to realize just who this Jesus really was, and here He was offering to belittle himself and do what servants usually did? "The King of the Universe wants to wash my feet, No this cannot happen". You see, to Peter this was to much, over the top, Way past the line. Peter was in his thinking way down here, and Jesus was WAY UP THERE. Peter was just a servant, not someone to have THIS Person was his feet.
But Jesus did not just want to wash Peter's feet, He wanted to send these future giants of the Bible a message, to show how true leaders are the lowest of the low, the humblest of the humble, the meekest of the meek. A true leader, one that you will follow to your death, is one who willingly gets on his knees and serves the least among you.
Jesus humbled Himself and came to this Earth as a Human, just as any other person here, He willingly stripped off who He really was, and became what He had created.IN EVERY way He was human. And yet here He was again, humbling Himself even further by washing his "Followers" Feet.
Peter was thinking wrong about what Jesus was offering to do. When Jesus explained that He was going to wash His feet or Peter would not belong to Him, Peter was ready to have a bath. I love Peter's response: "Then wash my hands and my head as well, Lord, not just my feet!"
Ever been to a "Foot Washing" service? It has been years, but I remember a small group from our church we used to attend, had one. Our Senior Pastor and his wife attended this small group, and we took turns washing one another feet. Pastor did not wash my feet, but he washed my wife's (ex wife now). On the way home she told me how having our Senior Pastor, a person we both had high respect and love for, to wash her feet. She said it was a very humbling feeling.
You don't hear a Easter message about Jesus washing feet much. This all happened not long at all before Jesus was lead away in the Garden. One of the last act's Jesus did before going to the cross was to wash his friends feet. How important do you think this was for Him? What kind of message did He want to leave with His Disciples? To wash someone's feet is to put yourself on a plain lower then them. To show that your not better then they are. To show in a way they can see, that you love them. But most of all to show that they are your friend, your brother or sister, and you would do anything for them.
If your boss at work washed your feet, wouldn't you have a lot more respect for them?
Yeah I trimmed my Dad's toes the other day, so what? He needed it, and I love him. He's my Dad. Would I have done the same for your Dad, if he needed it and I was the only one around? How about the homeless guy on the corner, the one who REALLY needs a bath, his toes trimmed, a haircut, and some new clothes? Would we trim his toes, wash his feet, take him to Walmart and buy him some new clothes, get him something to eat, or even bring him home and let him get a good night of sleep in YOUR bed? This is what Jesus was trying to show us. NOT tell us, but SHOW us. That WE are no better then anyone else, regardless of what we think, regardless of our differences, our backgrounds, our lifestyle, our political opinions, our differences in the Sports team we may root for, we are ALL creations of God, and He loves us. If God loves you, then I need to also. What makes me more worthy of His love then anyone else.
In my opinion, Jesus washing His friends feet, was one of the most significant things Jesus did while here on this Earth. There is such a message in that act. Peter didn't understand it, at first, but when he realized what Jesus was showing in this simple act, he was ready for a "double even triple Washing" Are you ready to have the King of the Universe wash your feet? But more importantly are you ready to wash anyone elses feet? Or maybe trim their toes, or wash their hair, or give them some clothes, or bring them a hot meal, or give them a ride to church, or.......................
Yes, what Jesus did on the Cross is the Greatest thing any person has ever done for me, I do not mean to belittle that wonderful sacrifice. But what He did by washing His followers feet, means so much to me, I don't have to die on a cross, He did that for EVERYONE, But I do have to be willing to wash anyone's feet, if they need it. Servants to all, follower of One. Happy Easter.
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