By Pastor Doug Cox

Can you imagine yourself cleaning dirt from between one hundred and twenty toes? That’s exactly what Jesus did. He washed the feet of His twelve disciples squeaky clean just a few hours before they all deserted Him. Even more amazing is, before the water on the cleaning towel could dry one disciple left to betray Him.

It had to be an awkward moment for all the disciples that night at supper. To see Jesus get up from the table and start pouring water into a basin. The disciples all knew the custom. They knew what the basin and water was for. Maybe they thought any second now a servant will come into the room and take over. But instead, they watched Jesus strip off His outer garment and arm Himself with a towel, then start doing what servants do, wash the feet of important people.

When entering the room everyone knew the tradition of foot washing, yet no one volunteered for the demeaning task. They all dismissed any thoughts of personal responsibility if they had them at all. Satisfying their manly appetites was certainly more important than washing each other’s stinky feet, so Jesus volunteered.

Jesus knew He was washing the feet of the same men who would in just a few hours be bowing their heads in shame for forsaking Him. But He also knew that when their heads were bowed, they would be looking at their feet, their clean feet, which would cause them to remember vividly His words., “…what I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” (John 13:7)

Later while wallowing in their shame and fear I’m thinking their clean feet reminded them that the last act of Jesus toward them was in service to them. How humbling it must have been when that reality struck them. Like a lightning bolt of revelation, they realized the only position they should have been jostling for was to be first in line to wash His feet.

They must have rehearsed over and over in their minds the events of that strange night. Jesus’ probing question and exhortation. “…Do you know what I have done to you?” “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.” “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (See John 13:12-14) I wonder if there was a pause right there giving the disciples time to think.

Some might have thought, “Jesus you do know that Matthew was a tax collector. I’ll wash everyone’s feet but his.” Or maybe some snickered to themselves thinking, “Peter doesn’t need a foot washing, he’s always got his foot in his mouth.” Breaking into their thoughts Jesus went on to say, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” “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.” “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:15-17)

No doubt the disciples learned the lesson that servanthood speaks. It speaks against our inherent desire to be served. Biblical servanthood requires the emptying of selfish desires so we can be filled with God’s love. When God’s love is working in us it will cause us to see the needs of others and ways to help. Let’s remember that the same Lord who created the universe not only bowed His knees to wash the feet of His disciples but went on to the cross to wash away the sin of the world.