“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 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.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.” John 13:6-11
Back in the day during Lent at Christ Lutheran in Nebraska ‘we’ offered to wash the feet of worshippers at the noon service. We had a basin of water, sponge and towels. A few came to the chancel rail to have their feet washed. As Jesus prepared to wash His disciples' feet in the above passage, He never said, "Men, I am now going to demonstrate servanthood; watch My humility." No way.
That kind of obvious pride was the trademark of the Pharisees. If you ever wondered whether they were humble, all you probably would have had to do was hang around them for awhile. Sooner or later, they would announce it which explains why Jesus came down so hard on them.
Unlike the Pharisees, the Messiah slipped away from the table, quietly pulled off His outer tunic, and with towel, pitcher, and pan in hand, He moved quietly from man to man. Back in those days, people reclined at a meal, actually leaning on one elbow as they lay on their side on a small, thin pad or on a larger rug covering the floor. The table was a low, rectangular block of wood upon which the food was placed. And they ate with their hands, not utensils. This position meant that if your feet were not clean, your neighbor was very much aware of it. It would be hard to ignore a face full of dirty feet and the aroma…oh the humanities.
As Jesus reached Peter, I am sure most of the small talk had quieted down. By now, the disciples realized their wrong. Guilt had begun to push its way into their hearts. Peter must have drawn his feet up close to him when he said, in effect, "No! Not my feet. Never, ever, ever will you wash my feet, from now 'til eternity!" This reveals a second observation about having a gentle and humble heart: being a servant includes receiving graciously as well as giving graciously.
Peter wasn't about to be that vulnerable. After all, Jesus was the Master. No way was He going to wash the dirt off Peter's feet! Is that humility? You know it's not. Being willing to receive sometimes takes more grace than giving to others. And our reluctance to do so really exposes our pride, doesn't it? During this season of Lent, may we examine our humility.
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