“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?
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 in 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 reminds me of the lesson Jesus gave us when He washed feet. The washing certainly is a practical thing to do as the disciples feet were dirty from their walking in the dirt and sand, wearing sandals; their feet were dirty. The washing of the children’s hands in Haiti is important as their little hands have touched so many unclean items before lunch and the lesson of hygiene is important to 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.
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