So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him . . . After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” John 13:4-5; 12-17 TLB
“I’m first! I get to go first!” Get any group of children together and you’ll hear those words before too long. Ask, “Who wants to help me pick up the trash?”, and you’ll hear a chorus of “Not me!” or “I’m already busy!” As we get a bit more sophisticated in our communication, we dress it up and camouflage our actual motives, but the bottom line remains the same. WE want to be first, in the highest place. We don’t want to do the dirty work.
That was the situation the night Jesus shared the Passover holiday meal with His disciples. As they gathered together in the Upper Room, they came from the activities of a full day, wearing the common sandals or even bare feet. The normal custom was for a household servant to perform the menial, undesirable task of filling a bowl repeatedly with clean water, washing the feet of each guest, removing the dirt and filth of the day. It was refreshing and helpful.
But on this night, there was no servant. Who would do it? Perhaps an uneasy silence hovered over the table. It was time to eat, but they were all dirty. Would they just ignore it and go on? Jesus stepped into that moment. He got up from the table, rolled up His sleeves, got the basin, towels, and water and started to wash the feet of the stunned men. He willingly did the job no one else wanted to do.
In life, people usually try to place themselves above others. One way is by trying to get others to do things for them and by avoiding lowly jobs that most people don’t want to do. We avoid serving others. But Jesus turned that upside down. He told them and us that He did more than wash feet; He set an example. This is the way we are to live and serve. Then He promised we will be blessed if we do it.
- What undesirable job could you willingly do without fanfare at your house or work today?
- At the end of the day, consider what blessing you gained from serving.