Of the Spirit (part 12)
In his love for his disciples Jesus prepared them for the time he’d no longer be with them in person. And he summarized it in one simple sentence: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you,” John 13:15.
And he summarized his example in one simple word: love. He then illustrated his love in the most personal and effective way too, by the physical act of washing his disciples’ feet before eating their communal meal. Feet needed to be washed because people back then ate reclining at low tables, and feet were very much in evidence. It was a job much appreciated when done for you, then.
But what must have really stunned the disciples was Jesus as their “Lord and Teacher,” and highly regarded “rabbi,” taking on himself the job of washing his students’ feet when there was no servant on hand in the room they were in. And how embarrassing it must have been too, having to watch Jesus wash their feet when none of them had volunteered to do it, and it hadn’t even crossed their minds to wash each other’s feet. So much for following Jesus’ example of coming “not to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28).
It was also embarrassing because they’d just been arguing among themselves as to which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Peter obviously felt extremely uncomfortable because he blurted out to Jesus, “You shall never wash my feet,” verse 8. How could Jesus even be willing to wash their feet with the attitude they were in? It would be like someone offering you the biggest piece of cake when you’d been grabbing for it yourself. Your selfishness totally exposed by the love of another.
But it got the point across beautifully, because if Peter wanted to be part of what Jesus was preparing them for, he wanted to be just like Jesus to be ready for it. So in his typical Peter fashion he wanted Jesus to wash him all over, to totally clean him of his selfishness.
And that was good, because it prepared them all for Jesus to say in verse 34, “A new commandment I give you: As I have loved you, so you must love one another”…(more on this tomorrow)
Buck To Basics 