Monday Morning Devotion-January 20, 2020
Clean Feet
He poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples' feet. John 13:5
Your first thought upon reading the title to this devotion before looking at the scripture was probably: "I bet that's the story of Jesus washing His disciples'
feet." And you would be right.
If you were like me the first time you read that story, if you can remember that far back, your immediate thoughts probably were: "What in the world is Jesus thinking?" Here's their leader, their Master, their Savior°the Worker of miracles°stooping to do this lowly task.
Before we get our mind wrapped around that idea let's take a step back and view foot-washing back in the day. Reading from Nelson's Bible Dictionary:
FOOT-WASHING: Foot-washing was an expression of hospitality extended to
guests in Bible times. People traveling dusty roads in
Palestine needed to wash their feet for comfort and
cleanliness.
There weren't any nice paved highways back then. Asphalt didn't come along until the 1800's. Most of the roads were very dusty and people's feet were even dustier since the fashion footwear of the day was sandals.
FOOT-WASHING (cont'): Foot-washing was generally performed by the lowliest
servant in the household (Luke 7:44). Guests were often
offered water and vessels for washing their own feet.
Here Jesus is performing the work of a servant or providing a service that people usually had to do for themselves. Like so many of His teachings here was another lesson about caring for others. Basically, it is a lesson of hospitality, but it is also about putting the needs of others first. Jesus had 12 disciples. You think washing the feet of 12 men wasn't work? Sure, it was.
Here's the setting at that Last Supper:
Jesus got up from the meal, took off his outer
clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist.
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.
When he had finished washing their feet He put
on his clothes and returned to His place. He asked
them, "Do you understand what I have done for
you? You call me Teacher and Lord and rightly so
°I have set an example that you should do as I
have done for you."
Jesus was pointing out to these Disciples that they should always be humble and ready to serve others. No man is greater than his Master and the Master
should pay attention to the servants needs. This act of servanthood by Jesus was in direct contrast with the disciples' attitude who had recently been arguing among themselves as to which among them was the Greatest. It was an argument that Jesus resolved:
For who is greater the one who is at the
Table or the one who serves? Is it not the
One who is at the table? But I am among
you as one who serves. Luke 22:27
Jesus is saying that we all are servants in the Kingdom work. Then if Ministers are
servants and we are church leaders or simply Christ-followers how can we lead?
Quest Study Bible answers that: "Jesus was not putting down the importance of leadership. He was highlighting the proper motives for leadership. All of us must be servants and some serve by leading. Following Christ's example godly leaders choose the way of humility. They are driven not by selfish ambition but by a burning desire to care for God's people and accomplish His purposes." With so much to do in our busy world we usually forget the servant part. We've got all we can handle just taking care of our own business. Therefore, we neglect or simply forget one of the great paradoxes of Christianity: "One of the great paradoxes of Christianity is that to be free you must serve, Matthew 11:28-30:
Come to me, all ye that are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest
unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and
my burden is light.
It's easy to resist playing the role of servant. We'd rather have someone wait on us
and that does happen in life. Usually, though, it's when you pay for a service. When
we hear Jesus saying: "Take my yoke upon you." Sounds kinda like when we see someone
approaching or get a phone call the antennae go up immediately. "Wonder what he/she is going to ask me to do? My goodness I am up to my elbows in work." And that can be the case. It could happen. And it is frequently legitimate.
Do you think Jesus might have had something better to do, something more pressing on Him than washing His disciples' feet? There was a pretty big event headed His way that He would have a major role in. But, His thoughts were on others and what was important for them to know when He wouldn't be around?
I have one of those memorable childhood sayings that fits here. When a grandkid or a neighborhood child was acting up my grandmother used to say: "Looks like he's just getting too big for his britches."
When we start getting too "big for our britches" that's the time to remember the foot-washing story of our Lord and the example he left us concerning helping others.
Prayer: Lord sometimes we just need a good foot-washing. Thank you for reminding us whose feet we should be washing. Amen!