Last time I asked a question: Is This An Emotional Week?
I still don’t know the answer, and maybe it doesn’t matter. If life’s really not about feelings, if what really matters is choices and commitments, then how the week feels, or ought to feel, isn’t a big issue.
So I decided to look at two choices Jesus made during the last week of His human life. He knew His time was short, so it makes sense that He chose to focus on big, important, principle-centered stuff. Surely He made many choices, but two stand out to me: Courage (we’ll look at that one tomorrow) and service.
In John 13, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. Less than twenty-four hours before His death He intentionally chose the lowest task, one usually reserved for the lowliest servant. Kings didn’t wash feet. Neither did heads of households, elders, respected leaders, or rabbis. Foot-washing wasn’t a job for someone of His stature and position.
Foot-washing wasn’t only a socially-undesirable task, it also frankly wasn’t very pleasant. Our images are all nice and sanitized, but consider the dusty streets and roads, the animals and their “stuff,” through which these men traveled in sandals. You can fill in details, but let’s agree that washing feet in this culture was a revolting, smelly, unpleasant job.
We don’t like being servants. Not really. We know we’re supposed to do it, but in the end how often do we willingly volunteer for, let alone actively pursue, the really nasty, menial, unpleasant tasks? How often do we seek out criminals, homeless folks, people who look or act or smell in ways that make us uncomfortable?
Ever wonder if foot-washing wasn’t just a nice symbolic act? Ever wonder if Jesus really meant for us to do for others the stuff that’s embarrassing or distasteful, willingly and with gratitude?
What if Jesus was serious about the serving thing?
Please leave a comment here.
Want to receive free updates?
Click below to get Bouncing Back
delivered directly to your inbox.
