When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, He was demonstrating how the greatest love sacrifices and serves. He took the basin and towel and illustrated what it meant that “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45a). There’s a lesson within a lesson here, as the washing Jesus was doing was related to scrubbing away sin. We can’t cleanse ourselves, nor should we think we’re too messy for Christ to power wash us clean. Jesus makes it clear to Peter and to us: “If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me” (John 13:8).
Oh the cleansing fountain He opened at the cross (Zechariah 13:1)! All who believe are “washed, sanctified, justified” (1 Corinthians 6:11). For those who walk in Him by faith, “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Washing the feet of the Twelve showed them that true leadership is about service to the ones you’re leading. This didn’t make sense to Peter, who objected to the Master cleaning a fisherman’s dirty feet: “You shall never wash my feet!” (John 13:8). We get what you’re saying, Peter. Jesus is too great for this. He’s holy. He’s pure. We’re not. None of us are.
“Lord, You just can’t stoop so low. I won’t allow it.” But here we see Jesus lowering Himself to raise the bar. This is what it looks like to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” It will mean getting your hands dirty. It will be inconvenient. This is love: not my doing what’s best for me, but what’s best for you.
Paul says we are to have the same mindset as Christ: He emptied Himself to fill others up (Philippians 2:3-11). Let’s grab a towel and serve!
