John 13
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6
2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6
Feet get really dirty in a society that has few paved roads and in which nearly every walks in open sandals. No host would allow visitors into his home without having their feet washed. Such would be an insult to the guest and result in a messy house for the host. It was a nasty dirty job and traditionally fell to the most junior servant in the house. During the last supper Jesus had shared much substantial theology with the disciples: This is my body… This is my blood. But this lesson was so important that He gave a visual illustration. ALL are called to be servants and no service is to low to be performed. This is a radical message even today. All societies are structured; they have a hierarchy. But the Creator of the universe came to be a servant to all.
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
There is much work to be done. Much of it not glamorous. Much of it in dirty, unsafe places. Much of it to the “lowest” of humanity” who have little beautiful about them, except that they are loved by God.
Isn’t it time to get humble, grab a towel, and get to work?
Nick
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