Would you have let Jesus wash your feet? In John 13 Peter questioned Jesus washing his feet. He may have felt this menial task was not fitting for Jesus. We might have agreed given what John tells us:
“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God” John 13:3 NIV
We normally give powerful people great honour. They are escorted by security, watched on TV, their photos are front page news. They have people serve them, every request is taken as a command. Given this, if you knew, respected, and want to honour Jesus, would you have let him wash your feet?
Jesus insisted he wash his disciples’ feet. Jesus did so, because he was great. God’s kind of greatness is shown in what Jesus did:
“so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
Foot washing is now done by Popes and Bishops at Easter, as an imitation of Jesus’ humble act. But it does not have the same impact Jesus had. Before Jesus, there was no precedent, and a Pope or Bishop is just a servant. Jesus has real power, real glory, without compare. Jesus shows our God has complete humility and total commitment to serving his world. God uses all of his greatness to serve others. In the cross Jesus has done far more, and far worse, than washing feet. All we can do is receive humbly what God is willingly giving. And be thankful.
In Him,
Jason