Lessons From Feet Washing

Peter could not believe his eyes. There was Jesus, towel around his waist, pouring water into a basin and moving from disciple to disciple, washing each one's feet. Then it was his turn. Stooping before him, waiting for him to offer his feet for washing was the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God.

The words from his lips betrayed his bewilderment. John tells us, "Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?" (John 13:6, KJV). Without addressing Peter's state of mind, "Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter" (v.7), but the disciple was having none of that. "Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet" (v.8a). Who could blame him? What was happening was a travesty of enormous proportions because the duty of feet washing was that of the house slave! He who was God in the flesh, His Lord, wanted to wash his feet? Wanted to do the work of a slave? No way! Not happening! The stubborn fisherman seemed prepared to hold his ground. Then Jesus spoke and answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me" (v. 8b). Maybe Jesus had looked directly into Peter's eyes; maybe there was a pregnant pause as His words pierced the disciple's resistance. In surrender, Peter saith unto him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head" (v.9).

The narrative continues, "So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (vv. 12-15). There are at least two important truths we can glean from this object lesson. First, Jesus demonstrated to the disciples that the act of washing each other's feet, of them all doing the work of a slave, was a demonstration of humility and deference to each other. For sure, if He, their Lord and Master, could set the example by doing it to them, they could and should do it to each other. Secondly, but no less important, was a demonstration of what it meant to trust Him when they did not know or could not explain what He was doing or why He was doing it.

We are being asked by Him to do the same things. To follow His example of service and humility for the cause of the kingdom of God. To trust Him when we cannot see Him; when we cannot feel Him; when we do not know why He leads us where He does; when we do not have any answers. Why? Because He can be trusted; He knows what He is doing.