Scripture: John 13:6-9
He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, " You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well!"
"I want to wash your feet." Now, there's something you won't hear every day! Even in the almost 15 years I have been a Christian, I have only heard these words twice. The most recent time was this week, as our entire church participated in a, "foot washing" service.
The very thought of someone else seeing... not to mention TOUCHING your feet brings to mind a host of emotional reactions. Most of those reactions are defensive, after all, your feet are personal... and probably not all that clean. Which is, perhaps, a very good (although superficial) reason to participate in such a service.
We're no different than Peter. I mean, here was the Master... the Teacher... the LORD - and he wanted to humble Himself, and perform one of the lowest, most humiliating jobs of a servant. He wanted to wash Peter's feet. "NO WAY!", was Peter's response. He may have been confused at the reversal of roles for his leader, and he was surely disgusted by the idea of someone of Jesus' status touching the grime that was caked between his toes!
Jesus' reposnse to Peter was a wake up call, though. He brought a sobering fact to our attention: Jesus MUST wash us in order for us to be a part of Him. He said it in a different way in John 14:6 when He said, "... I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."
Here's the bottom line: That which would prevent us from allowing the Lord to clean us - will separate us from Him. The Biblical term for separation is, "SIN". And this is the very heart of the problem that man has inherent in his nature. There exists a chasm between us and Him, and unless we humble ourselves, and allow the Master Builder to build a bridge... we shall not spend our eternity with Him.
Peter, having understood the concept, then went to the other extreme, and basically asked for a bath! How typical. How often we see God's plan, and the simplicity thereof, and seek to "add" to it so that we might feel like we "did" something. But isn't that the beauty of God's grace? We can't "do" anything to earn it... He just freely offers it, and to any who will accept, it is freely given.
Now... there's something powerful that happens when the demonstration of "foot washing" comes to a personal level. It's not something that we do every 5th Sunday. It's not even a yearly thing. It is a profound celebration of humility and servitude. It is a statement of submission and a powerful witness to your community. And friends, if you have never had your feet washed... I want to wash your feet. No need to pack up and head to Sterling, Colorado... what I am saying to you is that I wish to serve you. I wish to humble myself before you, and demonstrate a Christ-like attitude before you. And I wish to encourage you to do the same for those around you.
Prayer: Lord, how wonderful You are! We lift our hearts to You, and humble ourselves before You. Even as Jesus washed His disciples' feet, we wish to be washed as well! Help us to submit to those around us, and to serve them, even as You served the world! This we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you read this devotional, and realized that there is something separating you and the Lord... there are several things you can do.
God bless you as you seek to know Him in a deeper way!
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Eric Reamer is an evangelist, and full time Christian Illusionist. If you enjoy this devotional, please e-mail Eric at: Eric@IllustratedIllusions.com.
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