Foot Washing

Today we got to look at John 13. The temptation is to go directly to the Last Supper, but foot washing is too important to miss. Here, the week that Jesus is going to head to the cross (and He knows it) He takes some time out to tell the disciples some of the most important information they have ever received. But the actions proceed the words. First thing Jesus does is takes a rag and a bowl and washes the disciples feet. Some interesting cultural points about this:

1) A rabbi (as Jesus was) could tell his disciples to do nearly anything. There was, however, a rule that a rabbi could NOT ask his disciples to wash his feet.

2) This was not the sort of thing that one person would just do for another. Even when Jesus was marveling at Mary weeping at his feet he didn't reproach Simon for not washing his feet, but for the fact that he didn't bring him water to wash his own feet.

3) It seems the only person low enough for this task was a gentile slave. Considering the Jews of this time were in the habit of referring to gentiles as dogs (not pet dogs, but wild mangy mongrels) it really was a low task.

A couple of things seem really shocking about that to me. Jesus took a cultural standard (Rabbis are not to command their disciples to wash their feet) and completely over shot it. That is amazing. That is an amazing humility! It would be remarkable if Jesus were only a man, how much more so for the fact that He is God!

The next amazing thing is that He told the disciples they wouldn't understand right then, but later, and that they should continue to wash each other's feet going forward. I don't know if Jesus meant us to continue to literally wash each others feet. But I am quite certain that regardless of whether foot washing is to continue it needs to be a principle that is applied to our everyday lives. Which of my brothers and sisters need serving? What is the lowest, most basic, humiliating service I can give to them to let them know how treasured they are (regardless of cultural habits and stigmas). This week I want to be looking for feet to wash, and the courage to wash them.