John 13:1 – Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” 10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. (NLT)
Today we encounter a powerful passage of Scripture. Much has been said and written about this passage, so let us consider just a couple of things. First, it is important to note that foot washing was a task reserved for the lowest ranking servant in a household. Of course, many households did not have servants, but everyone present would have known how humbling this was for anyone to perform, much less their Messiah!
When I consider that Jesus was God in the flesh, I realize that every moment of his earthly life was humble servanthood. Whatever heaven is like, to come to earth in any fashion, much less as a poor peasant, is a powerfully humbling thing!
Secondly, let us consider what Jesus says in verses fourteen and fifteen. Jesus tells us that we have been given an example to follow, and that we ought to wash each other’s feet. Some Christian groups make foot washing an ordinance of their church. I see nothing wrong with the ordinance of foot washing and have experienced the power of such services. However, I read more into Jesus’ words than just washing of another’s feet. By washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus shows us that there is nothing too low for a servant. As Christians, we are all called to be servants – servants to one another, and servants to the world.
How powerful our witness for Jesus would be if we lived as humbly as Jesus calls for us to live! How different would the world be if Christians this day truly lived a life defined by humble servanthood?
Posted by Ramón Torres
Thank you Ramon. 🙏