Washing One Another’s Feet

Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
Exodus 12:1-42
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b 35

John 13:1-17 
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet 

1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a] 2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 

7Jesus replied, “You do not realize 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!” 

10Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12When 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. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 

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Today is Holy or Maundy Thursday. We commemorate the events to Jesus final night with his disciples. We see him at the Passover Feast perform an act of servitude. That catches the disciples unawares. In the society of that day, sandals were the normal footwear. The roads were dry and dusty or wet and muddy. When you came into someone’s home, one of the first acts of hospitality was to have a slave, or at least the low person on the totem pole, to wash the feet of the guests. It was sort of a refreshing gesture of welcome.   

   In this passage, Jesus takes on the servants role. He, who is the teacher, the one who’s feet should be washed, becomes the one that washes the disciple’s feet. It sort of makes you wonder why they had dirty feet to begin with. Were none of them willing to take on such a subservient role and perform the traditional gesture? If this was the case, then Jesus once again takes an everyday moment and turns it into a teachable moment.   

   In doing so, he reminds them of the heavenly pecking order—The first shall be last and the last shall be first. He reminds them that in the Kingdom scheme of things that if you want to save your life, you must first give it up. He reminds them that God’s ways are not our ways.  

   I truly like Holy Thursday, from early in my ministry I have performed the ritual of foot washing on this night. It has been interesting to see the various people as they approach this act of love. Some seem quite reticent. Others simply move right in and do what needs to be done. No one, though, has gone away unaffected. Everyone seems to have been touched in one way or another by this simply act of humble service to a fellow believer.  

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Prayer: Lord, let me never get so proud that I am unwilling to bow down and do what needs to be done for your Kingdom.