“Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.Cross references:
” John 13:8
Have you washed another person’s feet recently? I don’t mean have you washed your children’s feet or grandchildren’s feet or your elderly parent’s feet recently. Have you ever washed the feet of an acquaintance or a stranger’s feet? I led an Andy Stanley Bible study recently at Church and Andy spoke about the ‘new’ command from Jesus that called us to “love one another”. Have you washed another’s feet recently?
When Jesus was going to wash His disciple’s feet the response from Peter was “no, you will never wash my feet!” Peter didn’t fully understand what we are asked to do as Christ teaches us to serve. Jesus gave one more lesson while washing feet; being a servant is not merely a sign of inner weakness but of incredible inner strength.
Witnessing the washing of children’s hands throughout Trinity HOPE feeding programs in Haiti always reminds me of the lesson Jesus gave us when He washed feet. The washing certainly is a practical thing to do as the disciple’s feet were dirty from their walking in the sand wearing sandals, without cotton socks; their feet were dirty. The washing of the children’s hands in Haiti is also very important as their little hands have touched so many unclean items before lunch and the lesson of hygiene is important for them and their parents; their hands are unclean.
When Jesus told Peter that ‘unless I wash you, you have no part with me’ He was not only talking about his unclean feet, but was telling Peter and you and I and the children in Haiti that we are sinful and unclean and unless we accept Christ as our Servant and Savior, we will never be clean. We have His lesson to always remind us of the need of our service to Him and others. Go out into the world and seek and save the lost.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay