So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. (John 13:4-5)
After sharing some opening thoughts on this Lenten journey, the first four Lenten-content blogs have been about big picture themes of Jesus and his suffering–Obedience, Surrender, Sacrifice, Love. Starting today, we turn our attention to themes that arise from a more or less chronological rendering of the story. The Gospels are not precise in either their cataloguing or depiction of the ordering of the events. Even so, we do have a fairly good understanding of how things unfolded. We will start with the event of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples on the night that he was betrayed, which was the night before his crucifixion.
The cross means ultimate service. Ultimate servanthood. Taking care of others’ needs by symbolically washing feet was just one step towards the cross. It was a picture of things to come in which he would be putting others before self.
Some of us flinch when others try to help us, to reach out to meet our needs. We recoil and say, “Wait! You shouldn’t be doing that!” Or, “It’s my turn to buy! You bought last time!” Or, “I feel bad you are doing that for me. You’ve been sick, and I’m the one who’s been well; I should be serving you.” I’ve heard these kinds of expressions often in my life.
A basic personal need in 1st century Palestine was for cleaned-up feet after walking on unpaved roads. This need was met by someone else through an act of humility. The ones serving had to bend down and put themselves into a low posture to be able to wipe away the dirt and grime, and then towel dry the feet. Oh, and by the way, his disciple guys didn’t even fetch the water and towel and basin. Jesus did all that himself.
He went around the circle: wash, dry, repeat. They must have been stunned. Mouths hanging open. Furtive glances at each other. What is he doing?! What is this all about? Little did they know the teaching material that was ahead (see the rest of John 13, and on through chapter 17…and then the kangaroo court, and all the torture. Has there ever been a night like this one?)
All of this was a startling preamble to what was coming! He would take the initiative to offer his ultimate service on behalf of others. That initiative would materialize into the greatest gift we’ve ever received, Jesus’ self-sacrifice for us. And he demonstrated it with this action of a lowly servant that is unparalleled in history, a servant action that began a night like no other.
Dennis Kinlaw wrote: “How far will God go to reach you and me? He will get on his knees to wash our feet.” I guess it’s natural that when we realize that Jesus is moving into position to serve us, our first response is to pronounce like Peter did, “Lord, you will never wash my feet!” And then when Jesus explains just a bit more of what He is doing, we bubble out with, “Lord, don’t just wash my feet, but my hands and head as well!”
He has a reason for what he is doing for us, and he will not let either our lack of knowledge or lack of understanding keep him from his purpose and mission. We submit freely to the one kneeling with the basin and towel, assured that he knows what he is doing.
“Father, thank you that Jesus demonstrated to all of us how to serve one another, and put others above ourselves.”
Freddy Boswell 