When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 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 also should do just as I have done to you. (ESV)

Confession time – I hate feet. There’s just something about them, even mine, that gross me out. I’m not a squeamish person, but I don’t do feet!

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I once helped plan a ladies’ retreat (not at ACF) where they wanted to have an activity where we washed each other’s feet, as Jesus did his disciples’. That was a hard “NO” for me. Not going to participate in that. Not going to support that. No way! No how!

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When the person planning the activity asked me why, I returned the question to her – “Why?” She proceeded to explain that it was something Jesus did, so we should also do that. While I understood the point behind it – to serve one another—I asked if there was maybe a better way for us to do that. Maybe something that was more meaningful and impactful for today’s time? Why don’t we sign up to clean each other’s homes? Maybe offer to cook a meal or watch kids for someone in need? Her reaction to that was one of disbelief. “WHY would I clean someone else’s house or watch their kids?” I answered, “To serve each other in a way that impacts them positively – like Jesus did.”

If we want to make an impact like Jesus made, we need to serve like Jesus served. See, the point in Jesus washing the disciples’ feet wasn’t about feet. It was about having a position of honor and authority as teacher and Lord, and yet doing the “lowliest” of tasks. Even in those days, the elite did not do feet.  

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Jesus was showing a bit of the upside-down Kingdom of God – where the first becomes the last, and the last becomes first. Where the meek inherit the earth and blessed are those who mourn. Where we serve one another out of love – not out of rank or power or position.

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I recently watched someone serve someone else in such a beautiful way. Due to mobility issues, one of our guests who was baptized could not dry her own feet. So, one of my serve team members, who hates feet even more than I do, leaned down and dried her feet and proceeded to put her (already worn) socks back on her. Now THAT was impactful. THAT was beautiful. THAT was like Jesus!!

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She didn’t consider herself to be too good to serve – in fact she didn’t consider herself at all. If she did, she would never have gotten close to that woman’s feet. She would have just ignored the request or walked away. But she didn’t do that. She served – just like Jesus!

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Where have you considered yourself to be too good to do something for someone else? How does Jesus’ example help you to serve with no thought to self? Who can you serve today in a way that impacts them in a real way? In a Jesus way?

Jesus, I admit there are tasks that I have grumbled about and thought I was “too good” for. Would you help me to put aside self in order to serve like you? Would you help me to see that nothing that shows love to another is beneath me? Lord, help us to serve like you, our mighty Lord and Savior! In your precious name ~ AMEN!