Tuesday | Week 11

Jesus: Washing

The dusty roads that the disciples walked daily with Jesus must have stuck to their bodies, sand in their hair and all over their faces, but most certainly dirty feet. Sandals were the fashion statement of the day, and as Jesus bent down to wash their filthy, smelly feet, it was more than just an act to make them physically clean. He was most likely stripped to a loincloth, like that of a slave, as he used his own clothes to wipe the mud away. 

This was the Messiah, their Lord and Master, humbling himself as a servant. Peter’s objection is predictable as he would be the one to speak out and protest the absurdness of this act. “No,” Peter says, “You will never wash my feet!”  Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me” (v.8). I love Peter’s follow up to Jesus’ shocking statement. “Then Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well” (v.9). Wash ALL of me was his response. 

He recognized his profound need for a Savior, who was modeling the picture of what leadership looks like—not a ruler on a throne, protected by armies and sequestered from the people. That was not the kind of kingdom Jesus was teaching about when he said,

“Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”
Matthew 20:26-28 NIV

Jesus’ self-sacrifice was made evident through this act of washing the disciples’ feet. He came to serve, not be served. 

His motto was not “Here I am. Focus on Me.” Instead—“Oh there you are!” 

He saw and ministered to the needs of OTHERS, even those who would not fully accept him. Remember he even washed Judas’ feet knowing that he would betray him that day. This act of washing also represented the humiliation that was coming as he willingly gave his life on a cross. This selfless act insured the eternal washing, providing a way for the cleansing of human sin, the ultimate dirty feet we are all walking around with. May we be more like Peter today, recognizing our immense need to be washed by Jesus, not just our feet but ALL of us, every part.