Washing feet (thoughts from Holy Week continue...)

After sharing the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus did something that surprised and even shocked His disciples. The Bible says He got up from the supper, laid aside his outer garments, took a towel and basin, and began to wash the disciples feet. Since people of the day either wore sandals or went barefoot, their feet got pretty dirty as they walked along the dusty roads. Normally, a servant would be at the front door to wash the dirt from the feet of the guests; this was a common courtesy just like we might offer to take the coat and hat of guests in our home today. In all reality, one of the members of the group should have done this when they first arrived, but evidently none of them was willing to do so. Now, their Master was before them doing this lowliest of duties.

Now, I grew up in a church where we practiced feet washing. Yes, you read correctly. Just like Jesus--except, thankfully, we didn't take off our outer garments. Usually on the evening of Palm Sunday, we would partake in the Lord's Supper; afterwards we would divide up, women in one room and men in another. There we would sing songs, give testimony of God's grace and love, and then pair up and wash one anothers feet. No, I don't mean with soap and washcloths. One person would kneel in front of the other, pour water with her hands over the other's feet, then dry them with a towel. While it was always a little awkward at first, that time of worship would always end in tears and hugs and oftentimes healing between those who may have harbored hurt feelings. It was humbling to wash someones feet, but it was just as humbling to have your feet washed. Honestly, it was a beautiful experience!

Well, Jesus continued around the room washing the feet of each of his friends, who I am sure were befuddled by His actions. But the Bible doesn't record any discussion until Jesus came to Peter; at which time Peter protested that Jesus shouldn't be washing His feet. Jesus replied, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Peter (good ole Peter) then proclaimed, "Lord, then wash not only my feet, but my hands and my face." In other words, he said, "Jesus, bathe all of me!"

Jesus' reply is amazing to me. I don't recall noticing it before this year although I know I have read it and taught it to my children several times in the past. Jesus said, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet to be completely clean."

I love this! If we have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, then we are cleansed of our sins. It is as if we have been bathed by Christ; we are whiter than snow! But as we go through the daily grind of life, we aren't perfect. We can't be; we sin everyday. Isn't it true? We get mad, are unkind, act selfishly, become impatient. These are sins. And when sin stays in our lives, we can't have fellowship with God. It is as if our feet are dirty. By telling Peter that he only needed his feet cleansed, Jesus was saying that we don't "lose our salvation" when we sin; we don't cease to be a child of God because of our sin. When a Christ-follower sins and fails--in thought, word, or deed--he just needs to have his feet washed. That is, he needs to seek God's forgiveness in order to continue in fellowship with God. Isn't God awesome?!

"Father, Your ways are wonderful and complete. Thank you for cleansing my heart from the sin that kept me separated from You. Thank you for Your forgiveness that is always there when I seek it. I'm thankful today that You don't turn your back on me when I fail you."