Jesus got up from the table, removed his outer clothing, wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water in a basin, and washed each of the disciple's feet. After He was finished He returned the basin to its place, put His clothing back on and took His place at the table. Looking around the table with compassionate penetrating eyes, He address the twelve saying, "Do you understand what I have done for you? 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 sent you an example that you should do as I have done for you..." (John 13:13-15)
Whether or not you accept Jesus' example and teaching to mean that Christians are to literally practice foot washing or that it embodies all acts of humble loving service, there is no disputing that it has to do with ministry. This is why He was so insistent that the disciples understood what He did. If He, our Lord and Teacher, so willingly stooped to do the most menial and lowly of tasks, we, His people, are to do the same! As we ponder His example we recognize the lessons of humility, love, no task is being too lowly, and willingness rather quickly. But there is another important aspect of ministry revealed here that is easily missed.
Have you ever wondered about how dirty the disciples' feet must have been when Jesus took on the task usually assigned to a slave. Sandals were the common footwear of Jesus' day. The roads were dirt. The usual mode of travel, walking. The climate was arid. This combination makes for very dirty feet. This is why it was the customary gesture of welcome and kindness to wash the feet of one's house guest. What does this have to do with ministry? Was Jesus just merely doing the customary thing? Oh no! The shock and reaction of Peter and the others demonstrates that this was far more than a customary gesture. Jesus' words following the act drives this point home as well. The important, often missed, aspect of ministry is revealed in the dirtiness of the disciples feet. Can you imagine how dirty and messy a job that was for Jesus? The fact is, ministry is often very messy!
We don't want ministry to be messy. We want it to be easy, clean, fun, convenient, and popular. But, more often than not, ministry is messy. It is often rejected and misunderstood by the one's being ministered to. It takes us out of our comfort zones. It often necessitates rubbing shoulders with people we would not usually associate with. It calls us to reach up to serve the outcasts, the rejected, and the hurting of our society. It kneels down before our enemies, our Judases, to wash their feet. It requires vulnerability, our wearing nothing but a "towel" wrapped around us. It is not natural for us. It is humbling, requiring absolute dependence upon God. It is washing very dirty feet!
Lest we be repulsed by this revelation, we must look again at Jesus. He is not repulsed. His actions reveal that ministry is grand, glorious, joyous and fulfilling. He tells us that we "will be blessed if we do it."(John 13:17) Ministry is Jesus' way; the way of holiness. Its time, beloved, for us to hear the call to ministry and to start "washing feet." Jesus set the example. He calls us to it. Love demands it. We must not be repulsed by the fact ministry is often messy and we will get dirty. Rather, we revel in the fact that "through God's mercy we have this [His] ministry," (2 Corinthians 4:1) and we let the world know by our words and deeds that we are to regarded as servants - as feet washers! (1 Corinthians 4:1)
Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry