Looking Out For Each Other
In John 13, Jesus made one of his most potent demonstrations of how Christians are to love each other when he washed the disciple’s feet. Much has been said about this visual demonstration, most of it concerning the act of humility that Jesus displayed. No doubt this is true. Washing feet was a task usually delegated to non-Jewish servants. Jesus was demonstrating humility. However, there was much more to Jesus' actions then just a lesson on servanthood.
On the night that he was to be betrayed, Jesus was fully aware that he was about to depart this world and that the disciples were going to be without his daily encouragement and ministry (John 13:1-3). Jesus would soon commission them to go into all the world, and knew they would need each other’s encouragement and ministry to stay strong. So, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet.
“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you. ”
There was something about what Jesus was doing in washing their feet that they wouldn’t fully understand until after they had been through the events of the Passover.
To be ‘bathed’ is akin to our baptism into Christ. Jesus’ first message to the disciples was that they were already clean, through their faith in Him.
Washing their feet was different. Washing feet was removing the dirt and grime that had attached itself to the disciple's feet as they went about the affairs of everyday life.
Jesus was demonstrating that everyday life was going to throw dirt at them, some of which would stick. However, this didn't mean they were not still clean. Their ministry was to continually remind each other of what Christ had done for them in redeeming them, in making them righteous. And to take care to ‘wash each other’s feet’.
Every day we live our lives as people who have been forgiven, cleansed and made righteous, in an ungodly world, that can be messy. Some of the mess will stick. The world will try and tell us we’re not who God says we are.
We need to take time to wash each other’s feet. To remind and affirm each other of who we are in Christ Jesus. The muck that has stuck is not us. Underneath the grime is a forgiven, righteous and dearly loved child of God.
Unstuck the muck!
Take some time today to love on your brother or sister in Christ and remind them of who they truly are in Him.
Written by Grant Peterson
