Fervent Love For One Another

It is possible to know scripture by heart that has yet to impact our hearts.  While people are always on the lookout for something new, it is the same old passages of Scripture that provide fresh, relevant guidance to walk in newness of life made possible by the Gospel.  For the spiritually hungry child of God, this never grows old.

Today I considered the passage when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples.  Though Jesus was LORD of all, He voluntarily assumed a position typically filled by a slave and washed feet.  John 13:12-15 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."  Jesus provided an object lesson of conduct that was to mark all His disciples by how they served one another, laying aside any status without thought of themselves.

Before Jesus washed feet, He stripped Himself of His regular clothing and gird himself with a towel that was used to wipe the grime from sandal-clad feet.  When Jesus had washed all the disciples' feet, the towel around His waist would been been noticeably dirty.  This humble gesture was consistent with the considerate character of Jesus showed by laying aside His divine status in a sense to gird Himself with human flesh.  Then He drew near to people who were proud and defiled by sin so He might wash and cleanse them.  Only those willing to be cleansed had their feet washed, and only those who humble themselves to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ are born again.  After our conversion, being washed with the water of the word and the living water of the indwelling Holy Spirit continues to cleanse us of sinful habits, selfishness and pride.

Foot washing is most uncommon in western hospitality, so how can we do for one another as Jesus has said?  Peter, an apostle who allowed Jesus to wash his feet (albeit reluctantly!), quote Proverbs 10:12 in 1 Peter 4:7-8:  "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. ⁸ And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."  When we believers see another Christian overtaken with sin, expressing themselves with pride or refusing to forgive, we are to draw near to them rather than avoiding them.  Love doesn't cover sins by denying their existence or turning a blind eye to them, but looks to see that person restored to fellowship with God and others in the church.  Jesus did not allow dirty, smelly feet to deter Him from drawing near to wash feet, and He also was willing for the sins of the world to defile Him so sinners could be cleansed and given eternal life.  It requires humility and loyal love to minister grace to Christians so they might be washed clean of offenses.  We cannot wash people of sins or convince them to change course, but Jesus can.