November 14

Developing a Bold Love

In the first century there were very few paved roads. Roads, alleys and any winding trails would eventually become a thick layer of dust. Combine this with a hot sweaty day in the Middle Eastern sun and you have a foot disaster. The custom of the day would be that a servant would greet you at door and wash your feet, thus preserving the atmosphere of the dinner party. The servant would kneel with a pitcher of water and wash and dry your feet. Shoes, boots, and sandals were left at the door, a custom still prevalent in the Far East. If a home could not afford a slave, one of the early arriving guests would graciously take upon himself the role of the house servant and wash the feet of those who came.

Here we have the future leaders of the church and every one of them came up with an excuse for volunteering for the lowly task. So the room where the greatest celebration of the greatest sacrifice was going to be initiated was filled with proud hearts and dirty feet.

Now keep you eyes on Jesus because he silently gets up and unannounced moves from the table, puts the towel around his waste and picks up the pitcher of water to wash the disciples dirty feet. There is no fanfare, just the silent movements of bold love.

We don’t have any comments recorded until we get to Peter. In the Greek he says, "YOU" emphatic, “MY feet” “NEVER in all eternity.” I picture Peter as drawing up his feet in a jerky motion and holding his knees close to his chest as a protest to the love of Jesus. But Jesus tells him this is necessary and proceeds to wash all of their feet, including Judas’, the one who will betray in a matter of hours.

John 13:12-15 When 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.

Do you understand what I have done for you? What a strange question. Obvious anyone with an IQ above 80 would realize their feet are clean now. But Jesus has most in mind than just the obvious - Jesus always does. He wanted them to think deeply, to learn something very insightful and valuable as an obedient servant. He started with his role and TEACHER and LORD. You would expect him to say, “I washed your feet ‑ so ‑ now you should wash MY feet.” That is what we would expect him to say in our world of 2009. The way it goes on the streets of Stamford is this, “I scratched your back now you scratch mine.” That would be a privilege, to wash the feet of Jesus. But Jesus messes up the equation big time when he says, “YOU also should wash one another’s feet.”

To do this as a duty is weakness, to do it as a joy is strength. We need to do it with the right attitude. Don’t wash your enemy’s feet with boiling or ice water. The goal is to remove dirt, not skin, from the feet. So check the temperature and check the attitude.

Tomorrow become a servant to someone in your home. Look for ways to meet their needs, to put their interests ahead of yours, to serve them simply because Jesus has served you!!! Just Do It!!!