He did it anyway!

                 Think with me for a moment about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples as recorded in John 13. Washing of the feet of guests was for the lowest of the low in the household servants. Anytime there is a group of people there is often a “pecking order.” Usually the “newbies” get the most menial, disgusting, demeaning task of the job as an initiation. The host would never stoop to such a demeaning task. It served both function and ritual as it cleaned the feet from the dusty road in sandals and it ceremonially washed them. Yet, here in John 13 Jesus, Master, Creator, Savior gets up from the table and washes the feet of those men, carefully, tenderly, certainly cleaning the feet of his created students. That is turning the tables.

                Peter being…well Peter says, “no way you cannot do that” and Jesus says he must and Peter says, “then wash all of me” and Jesus responds it is not necessary. Peter is such a knucklehead. He is either all in or all out. There seems to be no in between with him. I know some folks like that. I am like that. There is also Judas, the betrayer, whose feet are washed by the Savior. Then there are the nine who will run at the first sign of trouble. There will only be one of the 12 who will stay with him until the end, John. Jesus knowing all of that still washes their feet. Each one with the care and attention to detail that the task requires. That gets me because I would have a hard time washing their feet knowing what they were about to do. Why does he do that?

                It’s what they needed. Not what he wanted but what they and we needed to see and experience so that they would lead in a similar way. It was the right thing to do for them in spite of them and their immediate actions to come. They would eventually come around all except Judas...He still washed his feet. In no time at all they were arguing (Luke 22) as to who would be the greatest disciple “numero uno” next to Jesus. He reminds them the one who serves will be the greatest. Why, because He loves us so.

                God is out to get us! Many believe God is lying in wait for us to do the wrong thing. We are under surveillance 24/7 for our failure and then God pounces on us. This example of Jesus is just the opposite. God is not waiting he has already taken the necessary steps for our freedom through forgiveness in spite of what you and I think or believe. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus serves his disciples before they mess up in His greatest time of need. That is GREAT news! That is hope! That is new life! It is!

                There is a dark side to this. Jesus does this for us to us so that we will do the same. Whaaaaaat? Serve those who will not appreciate it? Serve those who will misuse our gift? Serve those who will call us names? Serve those who don’t believe like us? Serve those who don’t like us? In a word YES! That is exactly what Jesus asks of those who love Him, those who follow him, those who have already been saved by Him. As he has done to us we are to do to others. Those like actions are the evidence we love Jesus. We are tasked with doing the right thing anyway, just because it is right.

                That’s the dark side, the impossible task. You can’t do it. I can’t do it. It has been done by the One who died in my place. My only hope is that he promised to never leave me nor forsake me. Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Turns out it IS possible in Him. He did it anyway…so can I…and you.

 

In HIS Service and yours,

Bro G