Wash

John 13:3-17 (The Message)

Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God.

So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron.

When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"

Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."

Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!"

Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."

"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!"

Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene.

So now you're clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.

Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet.

I've laid down a pattern for you.

What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious.

A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

"What I've done, you do..." Jesus says.

And what Jesus does, over and over again throughout scripture, is to give and serve.

The disciples were appalled at his scandalous display of servitude.

He washed their feet, taking the role of the lowest-on-the-totem-pole servant. You can almost reach out and touch Peter's palpable discomfort.

And who can blame him? Nobody wants to let someone who is an authority figure stoop to a role that doesn't "become" them.

But serving becomes Jesus. And he says that it becomes his disciples.

Jesus' very character is that of a servant. And maybe we can see ourselves in that role, even more readily than that of the person who is in need, receiving what the Master has to offer.

Christian life is about serving...but only once we have received from Jesus. Knowing what it feels like to receive freely inspires us to serve.

Service can happen with humility, and no record of who-owes-who because we realize that everyone needs to receive sometimes, as well.

Jesus the teacher...teaches by doing. The master who serves his students.

Only simple words are needed after that sort of example..."Now do what I've done."

Prayer: We are amazed at Jesus' example of washing his disciples' feet. May we learn from this master-servant how we can love and serve those around us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Tomorrow's Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17