A KING BECAME A SERVANT

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 should do as I have done to you. — John 13:14–15 To me, to read this it really challenges, humbles me, and I really get a strong fervent desire to worship my Jesus. the most precious moment, the most central part of His ministry here on earth is when He kneels before His disciples and washes their feet. It was the night of the Passover. He knew that His time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. He had loved His own who were in the world, here He shows them the full extent of His love. The meal was being served, and satan had already set in motion the betrayal by Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. Jesus knew that all things had been put in place by the power of the Father, and that He had come from God and He was now returning to God; so He got up from the table, took off His outer clothing… and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. — John 13:1–5 It has been a long day. The sun was warm. The streets were dry. And the disciples were are a long way from home. And they must have been looking forward to a splash of cool water. They entered, one by one, and took their seats around the table. But On the wall there was a towel, and on the floor was a pitcher and a basin. Any of the disciples could have volunteer for the job, but none did. After a while Jesus gets up and takes off His outer garment. He wraps himself in a servant’s girdle and places it around His waist, picks up the basin, and He kneels before one of His disciples. He then proceeded to undo his sandal and gently lifts the foot, puts it in the basin, He then pours water on his feet, and begins wash them. One by one, one grimy foot after another, Jesus works His way down the row. In Jesus’ day the washing of feet was reserved not just for servants but for the lowest of servants. Every circle has its pecking order, and the circle of household workers was no exception. The servant at the bottom of the pecking order was expected to be the one on his knees with the towel and basin. Here the one with the towel and basin is the King of the universe. Hands that shaped the stars now wash away filth. Fingers that formed mountains now massage toes. And the One before whom all nations will one day kneel now kneels before his disciples. Hours before His own death, Jesus has only one concern. He wants His disciples to know how much He loves them. That He loved them More than removing dirt, Jesus is removing doubt. Jesus knows what will happen to His hands at the crucifixion. Within twenty-four hours they will be pierced and lifeless. Of all the times we’d expect Him to ask for the disciples’ attention, this would be one. But He doesn’t. You can be sure Jesus knows the future of these feet He is washing. These twenty-four feet will spend the next day following their master, weeping, unable to do anything, but just watch. These are the feet that will run for cover at the sight of a Roman sword. Only one pair of feet won’t abandon Him in the garden. One disciple won’t desert Him at Gethsemane — Judas won’t even make it that far! He will abandon Jesus that very night at the table. I looked for a Bible translation that reads, “Jesus washed all the disciples’ feet except the feet of Judas,” but I couldn’t find one. What a passionate moment when Jesus silently lifts the feet of His betrayer and washes them in the basin! Within hours the feet of Judas, cleansed by the kindness of the one He will betray, will stand in Caiaphas’s court. Behold the gift Jesus gives His followers! He knows what these men are about to do. He knows they are about to perform the vilest act of their lives. By morning they will bury their heads in shame and look down at their feet in disgust. And when they do, He wants them to remember how His knees knelt before them and He washed their feet. He wants them to realize those feet are still clean. You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later. — John 13:7 WOW. He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it. How would you have responded if Jesus, knowing everything about you, knelt before you to wash your feet?
What’s it like for you to experience forgiveness? What’s been the hardest aspect of giving and receiving forgiveness in your life? Matthew 6:12–15 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Debts, sins, or trespasses — why did Jesus tell us to ask God to forgive us in the same way that we forgive others? What actions similar to foot washing might we practice in someone else’s life to express our forgiveness toward him or her?
Who needs forgiving in your life?
Ask God to help you answer that last question truthfully. Write out what will allow you to express forgiveness with some word to someone . Ask God to show you relationships in which you need to seek forgiveness. If by His example the creator the author and finisher of our faith can show such humility humbleness who are we to hold a grudge and have an unforgiving heart.
May God bless you Amen Amen and Amen