Pass the soap . . .

After nearly three years of ministry, Jesus knew that His time was near. Soon He would leave this world, but before He did, He wanted His disciples to experience His love in a special way. He also wanted them (and us) to know how to show our love to one another:

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.’” (John 13:12–17)

Some interpret foot-washing as a ritual to be performed as any other rite. However, this story has background. In Jesus’ day, foot travel in sandals resulted in dirty feet. If it was raining, or if the traveler was prone to sweat, those feet could be repulsive. Hospitality was an important part of their culture, so those feet must be washed, but this was done by servants only.

Today, washing feet or having your feet washed is usually a humbling experience. Because of that, many interpret what Jesus did as an example of how to refresh other Christians who have become ‘dusty’ through living in this sinful world.

I’ve had my feet washed literally, which was a blessing. I’ve also had my feet washed symbolically by loving believers who did for me unexpected actions of kindness. One time I’d driven to Bible school on a road coated with about two inches of ice. It was a harrowing experience. When I arrived, I realized I’d left my assignment paper on the kitchen table and it was due that day. I expressed my dismay to one person, not realizing she passed that on to another friend. The second person approached me about an hour later to say she had to drive into town to the bank. Then she asked for my house keys. I still become weepy remembering her kindness and sacrifice as she thoughtfully saved me a ‘late-fee’ cut in my marks by retrieving my essay.

More recently, we were having a stressful week with family illness and a host of other things. A dear Christian friend called and told me that the Lord prompted her to bring supper over for us. She brought stew and bread, butter and a pie. Again, I wept.

Foot washing is not a ritual, even with the symbolic interpretation. It is listening to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and following through with what He says. These are God-whispers, not a to-do list. I’ve tried the list, such as “phone someone every day” or “invite others over two times a month” but that rapidly turns into duty and burdensome, easy to abandon.

Foot washing is meeting obvious needs, but sometimes not so obvious. I had a rhubarb plant in my yard. A new couple came to our church from down east. The Holy Spirit prompted me to take them some rhubarb. I wondered about it at first, for rhubarb is something like bagpipes; you either love it or hate it. But I took a bundle anyway and was met with: “Oh my, we moved here and the first thing I have missed from our home is my rhubarb plant.” Only God can do stuff like that!

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, sometimes my feet need washing, but many times I notice others who could be blessed with little things or huge responses. Whatever it needed, keep my ears tuned to Your nudges and my heart willing to do whatever You ask, even those things that seem to make no sense to me. I trust You to know the needs of others and to tell me what I should do to wash their feet.

Humility and serving others

Yesterday I struggled with what God had shown me, knowing He is right about my pride and my tendency to rely on some people more than I should. Jesus does not think that way, and because He lives in me and has given me His mind, I’m not to think that way either.

However, knowing what to do is far easier than actually doing it. How does anyone change their habits? The Bible says changing them is like a leopard trying to change its spots. Apart from the grace of God, I’m stuck . . . yet one definition of grace is “seeing Jesus and being changed” by what I see. So today, God gives me another look at Jesus.

This view is the familiar narrative describing how He washed the feet of His disciples. As I read it, I can see more of how His mind works (and more of how my thinking fails to measure up). The passage is John 13:1–17.

First, Jesus knew it was nearly time for his death. He knew where He was going and knew the people God had entrusted to His care. And He loved them. I don’t know when I will die (and likely don’t need to, at least not yet), but I do know where I am going. I also have some idea of those God has entrusted to me, and I do love them, but not as much as Jesus loves them.

Second, Jesus knew that He had been given all things. He also knew He had come from God and was going back to God. God tells me I have all I need, but I seldom act like it. I’m always feeling needy, or often wanting something I don’t have. I know where I came from and know I am going back to God, but deep is my knowledge? For Jesus, His understanding led Him to do the task of a servant as a gesture of His love and as an example to His disciples of how to care for each other. I have greater freedom to serve others than this time last year, yet still am often very uncertain. I worry about acceptance and about “doing it right” and about the value of doing it at all.

Third, Jesus also knew how to answer those who misunderstood what He was doing, such as Peter who didn’t want Jesus to serve him. When Peter did understand, he asked for more than was needed. Jesus was not put on the spot by Peter’s brash ignorance. He knew how to set him straight without being offensive. That happens to me all the time; the misunderstanding part, not the part about knowing how to respond. I’m more like Peter. I want Jesus to be glorified and treated as the King of Glory, but don’t quite know how to act if I’m treated worse or better than I deserve.

Fourth, theologians disagree about the significance and practice of foot-washing, even if they agree that serving others is important. I also know this is true, but how? What is the best way to cheer a discouraged Christian? Or feed a homeless beggar? Or help a person in prison? Or do anything for others? For some, this seems easy, even natural. For me, I wonder if I think too much. If a child spills his popcorn, getting him another bowl is easy. If my mother’s shoes pinch her feet, buying her another pair seems straightforward. But what do I do when a mentally ill person asks a deep theological question, or a child is crying because his grandmother was killed in a drive-by shooting? When it comes down to it, washing feet seems much easier and Jesus did wash their feet.

If foot washing is an example of having a servant heart, and of thinking with the mind of God, it could then be any number of kind and thoughtful actions. For some, this is simple. For me, I have too many ideas and solutions that become complicated.

Maybe I think too much, or maybe the problem goes back to pride . . .  because at the end, after Jesus told them He had given them an example and that they should do just as He had done, He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”