Footwashing
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. John 13:3-5.
We have heard this story a number of times and been taught it as an example of humility that Jesus left us. We ought to be willing to debase ourselves, as the Master did, even unto washing another’s feet. We hear the point made that washing another’s feet in that day was not like it would be today; those people wore sandals and walked everywhere so their feet were very dirty at the end of the day. Consequently anyone washing another’s feet would be doing a dirty, nasty job, almost literally groveling in the dirt. Christians throughout the ages have engaged in foot-washing ceremonies, wanting to emulate Jesus’ willingness to humble Himself before another person as a form of ritual self-mortification.
In reading this passage recently, however, it struck me that to view this incident from Jesus’ life in that way might be missing the point. Why, does the Scripture say, did Jesus wash His disciples’ feet? Because He knew “that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God”. Jesus knew what He had; He knew where He had come from; and He knew where He was going. I submit that because this is so, Jesus’ humility or lack thereof was a non-issue. For Jesus, washing another’s feet neither exalted Him nor debased Him, because He was secure in the knowledge of where He stood in relationship to God the Father, and in His place in the universe. Performing some task that needed to done meant nothing to either His glory or humility. It was merely a task that needed to be done.
So, I believe, it should be for us who know and endeavor to follow the Lord. Do we truly know what the Father has put in our hands? Do we truly know that we come from God, and some day we will go to God? If so then the performance of any task in love and service to another, no matter how simple, or dirty, or “humble”, should be able to affect our “self-esteem”, our “sense of self-worth”, one way or the other. “…[A]s He is, so shall we be in this world”(1 John 4:17). This is God’s promise and command to us.
God bless,
- Chad
We have heard this story a number of times and been taught it as an example of humility that Jesus left us. We ought to be willing to debase ourselves, as the Master did, even unto washing another’s feet. We hear the point made that washing another’s feet in that day was not like it would be today; those people wore sandals and walked everywhere so their feet were very dirty at the end of the day. Consequently anyone washing another’s feet would be doing a dirty, nasty job, almost literally groveling in the dirt. Christians throughout the ages have engaged in foot-washing ceremonies, wanting to emulate Jesus’ willingness to humble Himself before another person as a form of ritual self-mortification.
In reading this passage recently, however, it struck me that to view this incident from Jesus’ life in that way might be missing the point. Why, does the Scripture say, did Jesus wash His disciples’ feet? Because He knew “that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God”. Jesus knew what He had; He knew where He had come from; and He knew where He was going. I submit that because this is so, Jesus’ humility or lack thereof was a non-issue. For Jesus, washing another’s feet neither exalted Him nor debased Him, because He was secure in the knowledge of where He stood in relationship to God the Father, and in His place in the universe. Performing some task that needed to done meant nothing to either His glory or humility. It was merely a task that needed to be done.
So, I believe, it should be for us who know and endeavor to follow the Lord. Do we truly know what the Father has put in our hands? Do we truly know that we come from God, and some day we will go to God? If so then the performance of any task in love and service to another, no matter how simple, or dirty, or “humble”, should be able to affect our “self-esteem”, our “sense of self-worth”, one way or the other. “…[A]s He is, so shall we be in this world”(1 John 4:17). This is God’s promise and command to us.
God bless,
- Chad
posted by cft3 | 7:33 AM
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