Beautiful Feet

"Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. ² And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, ⁴ rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. ⁵ After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded."

 John 13:1-5

Humility of this sort is based on love and faith in God.  Jesus coming to earth as a man is divine condescension, God made flesh, dwelling among men.  Not only did Jesus live as a man, but He humbled Himself in the service of men for the glory of God.  Jesus washed the disciple's feet, not to manipulate or to spite them for their inhospitable neglect of washing His feet, but to set an example for every one of His disciples to follow.  He washed the filthy feet of those who would run in fear for their own skin in the Garden of Gethsemane and abandon Him.  He washed the feet of the man who had already conspired to betray Him.  Jesus did not stop even at this point, but went to the cross in obedience to the Father and love for sinful men.  Romans 5:8 reads, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

John 13:12-16 says, "So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him."  Jesus entreats us to wash the feet of others.  This job is not assigned for certain people in the church, but for all people who are in Christ:  a servant is not above his Master.  Jesus has placed us in the Body of Christ to fulfill specific purposes and callings, and one purpose for all of us is to wash one another's feet.

In current western culture, washing feet is a foreign concept.  But we do not need to work hard to imagine what washing feet is like.  For one, most of us have feet!  Feet can be stinky, calloused, and even unsightly.  In the days of Christ, people tied sandals on their feet and did most of their traveling on foot over dirt roads - if there was a road!  If I was in line to have my feet washed, I would want to be in the front of the line because I know that water will quickly turn the color of dirt!  But scripture shows us that Jesus took no thought for His life, and did not demand that anyone wash His feet even after washing everyone else's!  His request?  "You also ought to wash one another's feet."  His thoughts were on us, not focused on Himself.

Jesus did not wash feet so He would "have the dirt" on people!  When we travel through life with folks at church, sometimes we become aware of struggles or difficulties they have or are currently experiencing.  Sometimes we can be treated without respect or care.  Biting words, foul tempers, or unsightly attitudes and things all Christians must deal with.  Everyone's feet can be smelly!  Instead of being put off by other people's dirty feet, we are called to see to restore such a one with a spirit of gentleness, for love covers a multitude of sins.  With the wet weather recently, there is an increased need to clean the floors in our house.  I can choose to complain loudly to my kids for their carelessness of bringing in mud and grass on their shoes, or I can thank God I have kids and that they can walk!  Our attitude in our feet washing makes all the difference, doesn't it?

While we are confronted with dirty feet and a job that never seems to be done (I have to wash my own feet every day in the shower), what should mark my attitude?  Ephesians 5:18-21 states, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God."  Also it is written in Philippians 2:3-8:  "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

Can we do this ourselves through effort?  No.  But it is the will of God to do these things through us, if we will repent and humble ourselves before Him.  The joy of the LORD is our strength, for it is His love which compels us!  Clean my heart and hands O LORD, wash me in the water of your Word, and fill me with the Holy Spirit so I might wash feet as Jesus did.  Thank you Jesus, for washing my heart, mind, and soul!  Thank you for your humble example!