You Will NEVER Wash My Feet!

Do you find that it’s generally easier to serve than to be served?

For some reason, I like to make my own salads and sandwiches. Those who quote the old proverb, “a sandwich tastes better from another hand,” clearly hasn’t met me! Oh sure, the pictures of preassembled masterpieces that stud most menus do look appealing…but quite frankly, when I want a good salad or deli sandwich, I’d much rather do the work myself. I mean, really, it’s so much trouble to line out all the details of the manner in which I like it best: bread & butter pickles, not dill; thinly sliced red onion, but not too thick; or, the first layer of greens needs to be lightly dressed before loading on the rest of the topping; croutons, onion rings and sunflower kernels on top, if you please. However, inevitably, if indeed I’m forced to bow to the salad or sandwich preparation of another, I am generally grateful and quite pleased with the outcome.
Yes, indeed, sometimes it’s hard to be served – for being served in our culture can be a signal of haughtiness or hierarchy or self-worthiness. Yet, in reality, when we choose not to be served by others, what’s really at stake is our pride. When we eagerly say, “here’s your charity,” and retort, “I won’t receive your charity,” we say in no uncertain terms that we’re too good to need others – to be in want for anything that we can’t grasp with out own two hands. Certainly, we have little problem being served a nice meal at a fancy restaurant or taking advantage of the concierge at a fine hotel, but what about accepting grace when we’ve screwed up? What about receiving benevolence during a time of need? Yes, when we serve without being served, we say in no uncertain terms that we are beyond the requirement of someone else’s offering.

In my life, I’ve been a part of, I’d say, about a dozen foot washing ceremonies. Some of them have been in the privacy of a home with just a few present, and some in a larger worship setting. If you’ve never been a part of something like that, I pray that you at least have the opportunity one time in your life to see if not participate in something similar. Inevitably, there are a few categories of people who emerge during a foot washing: 1) those who are eager to wash someone’s feet, 2) those who are hesitant to have their feet washed because of self-consciousness about their feet, 3) and those who are unwilling altogether to participate because of their discomfort in the matter.

I remember a particular foot washing when the latter of those people really took me aback. We were washing feet in a small group setting of about 15 people. I had begun the process by modeling the procedure to a few in the group and then asking if anyone would like to participate. At once, one of the group’s members, a former elder at the congregation, took the bowl and towel and proceeded around the group washing everyone’s feet. It was a poignant moment, as all had tears in their eyes for this elderly man who had done such an act. When he was done, I felt moved to take the bowl and towel, and likewise wash his feet. As I approached him, he was humbly reluctant, saying, “no, thank you,” as I drew near. Yet, when I began to implore him to allow me the privilege of washing his feet in front of the group, his humility shifted into discomfort which quickly gave way to outright disgust. “I will not allow you to wash my feet,” he fumed. “I’m glad I could do it for everyone else…but I just don’t feel like I can let someone else do it to me.”

What sad commentary from such a godly man, but I wonder if many of us don’t act and feel the same way in our lives, when we rob people of the opportunity to serve us in ways that cause us to be humbled and pride-fallen? In John chapter 13, we see Jesus entering into the last moments of his time on earth. He spends it with, who else, but his disciples; they are sharing the Passover which Jesus transforms into a representation and fulfillment of himself. And then, in an incredible act, the master becomes the servant and rises from the table and begins to wash their feet. One can only imagine the slurry of emotions as Jesus went from Thomas, to Phillip, to Andrew…and then to Peter. What a fuss he put on! “Lord, you’ll never wash my feet!” exclaimed the ever-prideful fisherman. Then Jesus says something that cuts right into the heart of everyone who would come after him, both in that age and all ages to come. “Unless I wash you,” Jesus said, “you have no part with me.” The washing of feet was merely a symbol – something Peter couldn’t overcome with his worldly lenses in focus. Yet, what Jesus was really saying was simply this – everyone has to be served and has been served by God the Father with my (Jesus’) very presence on earth. To follow Jesus is to be served by God! For, in being served in this way, a true washing - not of the head, feet, and hands – but of the heart must occur. To accomplish this takes a confession of utter humility and denial of one’s ability to save oneself.

Sound simple…maybe so, for some. But the acceptance of grace has always been a much easier prospect than receiving it. In your worship this week, meditate on what it is in the Christian life to be both servant and served. Taking your lead from Jesus, contemplate on what it is we can learn from the Master turned servant. Rejoice in the grace you have received in being served by God and seek to become a better grace-giver with those in your sphere of influence.

Resounding Themes:

The Joy of God’s Reign
The Amazing Grace of God
Humility
Becoming a Grace-giver

Getting READY to Worship

Ready, Set, READ

John 13:1-17

Ready, Set, MEDITATE

- Where do we find Jesus as the scene unfolds? What emotions were present? Why? Foreshadowing what Jesus is about to do, John commentates that Jesus shows his disciples the full extent of his love – what does that mean? What motions did Jesus have to go through being the foot washing? Knowing what Jesus represents to the disciples, why are his actions shocking?

- When Jesus came to Peter, how did he react? What part of what Peter says reveals he still didn’t know who Jesus was? How does Jesus respond to him? What does Peter retort?

- When Jesus was done, what did he have to say to the disciples? Why was this teaching so important to be understood? Why would the disciples blessed if they practiced what Jesus said?

- Are you eager to accept grace from others or reluctant to do so? Deep down, why do you have a difficult time receiving as opposed to giving? Have you ever hurt someone because you wouldn’t receive something given you like forgiveness? Money? Time? Love? What would Jesus say about our inability to be served by God?

Ready, Set, PRAY

Lord God, we exalt Your righteousness to the world. We hold up Your integrity and everlastingness for all peoples to see. In You is found all good qualities of man – for they came from You.

Yet, even in Your transcendence, You envisioned a way to embody all that You are in person of man. In Jesus, we have seen Your glory and the full representation of God formed in into the Creation, forever wrapped in finite, Master become servant. You serve us God…how can we understand?! In the giving of Jesus into the world, You lowered Yourself to us, descending to the level of our need. Truly You showed us how to become the servant of all.

Lord, in Your example and by Your power, we implore Your Spirit to invade our hearts and to tear down the strongholds of pride that hinder us from being serve. And God, as we are served first, may we then find blessing in doing so to others, as You have done to us

It’s in the name of the Servant of man we offer this prayer. AMEN.

Ready, Set, WORSHIP!