Foot Washing

Devotional written by Rebecca Ingram Powell, Proverbs 31 Ministries Writers' Track

Consider the scene at the Last Supper, when Jesus removed his outer garment and, assuming the role of servant, began to wash the disciples' feet. Did you know only moments before, the disciples had been arguing among themselves as to "which of them was considered to be greatest" (Luke 22:24, NIV). They each wanted the seat beside the Master! The Messiah Himself, the only truly Great One, quietly rose from the table and began to teach them once again, not with a verbal rebuke, but with a living picture they would never forget.

Then he [Christ] poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."
Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet - ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be a part of what I'm doing." "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" (John 13:5-9 The Message).

Have you ever washed someone's feet? There's nothing glamorous about it. Feet stink. Feet are dirty. In New Testament times, foot-washing was an act of hospitality. Guests in one's home were treated to this kindness by the servants of the house. I'm sure it was quite refreshing to be pampered in this way after traveling on those dusty roads - refreshing for the one who received the pampering, that is. It was grunge work for the servant who was duty-bound to perform the task. Peter was absolutely stunned that Christ was putting Himself in this position of servitude, and he wanted no part of it.

In this holy moment, Peter's initial reaction was to resist, shaking his head: No. Not me. Not you, Lord. Holiness had confronted humanness, and it presented a paradox to this man--this man so like the rest of us. Peter - Joe Everybody - was about to get his feet washed by the very One who made his feet, and he could scarcely take it in. I imagine it was just too bizarre.

In an effort to bring him back to his senses, Christ presents Peter with an ultimatum: Either I wash your feet or you're not mine. It's time for you to make a decision. Until you do, we can't go any further in our relationship.

Jesus came to serve. He came to offer a grace that was undeserved. Are you washed from head to toe? Forgiven completely? Praise God! Daily, however, we need to allow Him to wash the dust from our feet - the filth accumulated from simply walking around on planet Earth. It's our daily walk that will tell whether we are beside Him or in Him. Have you reached the point in your Christian life where you're longing for a closer walk with God? Perhaps you feel as though you're scooting closer and closer to Him, but you're still not where you long to be. It could be time for you to make a decision. Plunge in! He's calling you to a deeper walk with Him.