“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” — John 13:3-15 NIV
As Jesus begins washing feet, He comes to Peter.
And Peter responds the way many of us would:
“Lord, do You wash my feet?” (John 13:6)
Translation: This doesn’t feel right.
When Jesus explains that Peter doesn’t understand yet, Peter pushes back even more:
“You shall never wash my feet.”
And Jesus responds with something striking:
“If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me.” (John 13:8)
This is the piece of the Gospel that makes us uncomfortable.
We don’t enter into relationship with Jesus by effort.
We enter by allowing Him to do what only He can do.
To cleanse us.
And that can be harder than it sounds.
Because accepting grace requires humility.
It means admitting:
• I can’t fix myself
• I can’t undo my past
• I need what He’s offering
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
Peter swings to the other extreme:
“Then not just my feet—my hands and my head also!”
But Jesus gently corrects him:
“The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet…”
In other words:
You are already clean—but you still need daily cleansing.
This is the tension of the Christian life.
We are forgiven… yet still growing.
Accepted… yet still being refined.
Washed… yet still walking through a dusty world.
And then Jesus does something powerful.
After finishing, He puts His outer garment back on and asks:
“Do you understand what I have done for you?”
He doesn’t leave it as a moment to admire.
He turns it into a calling.
“As I have done for you, you also should do for one another.”
This is the way we live out the Gospel.
Not just in what we receive—but in what we give.
Washing one another’s feet doesn’t always look literal.
It looks like:
• Choosing patience when you’re irritated
• Offering forgiveness when you’ve been hurt
• Bearing with someone who is struggling
• Showing compassion instead of judgment
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” — Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
It looks like love that bends low.
Because that’s the kind of love we received.
It all goes back to those two greatest commandments:
“Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”” — Matthew 22:37-40 NIV
We love others from the place of being loved by God.
“We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19 NIV
And this is how people recognize Jesus in us:
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
The same Jesus who washes us…
Sends us.
Not to perform.
Not to prove.
But to love.
Comments
Post a Comment