Who will sit in the chair today?
It’s Holy Thursday; the day we celebrate Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. It surprised me to learn that only one Gospel contains the story of the Washing of Feet. Jesus actually washes the feet of his disciples. He is on the dusty, dirty floor with a basin, a bowl, water and a towel. He washes the dirtiest part of a person in those days. They walked across dirt and sand long distances in sandals. Their feet had to stink and literally be dirty. The Son of God washed those filthy feet.
“Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me teacher and master, and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
John 13:12-16
Jesus did this as a model to all of us of humility, honor and service. It is not the one among us who is too self righteous to serve others, that will feel the hands of Christ but the one who is lowly that serves who will feel the embrace of the Living God.
We live in a culture that believes in service. That is service to ME and my needs, wants and desires! We expect that our “server” at a restaurant should meet every need we have before we have it. We believe that when we walk in a store someone should greet us and acknowledge our choosing that store by gracing the doors (they actually hire door greeters to feed into the “serving me idea”). If someone in customer service doesn’t know the answer we are personally offended and want to talk to the manager!! We have money and choices for where we will spend our money. If your establishment cannot “serve” me well I will go to one that will!
How on earth do we flip it in our culture to what Jesus is trying to teach us in this gospel? We have to change our perception, our expectations and our attitude. Put on Christ not the trend of our culture. Serve others. But how you may say?
Do this by Washing another’s feet:
As parents we do this often when we; help our child when it is not easy, changing diapers, holding their hair when they get sick, getting up in the middle of the night to console them. When we help with homework we don’t understand and watch that blasted kid movie one more time because they love it. When we give another hug and a kiss, and read one more book and cuddle one more time.
As workers we do this often when we; drop our ego and give credit to someone else’s good idea. When we reach out to another coworker we may not care for and talk to them. When we smile and offer a helping hand to someone who is “below” our ranking.
As strangers we do this often when we; smile at a stranger, offer to hold a door open, offer to help carry something for them or help in anyway.
As children of God we do this when we; help the least of our people. When we do something we don’t want to do but know it will help someone else, when we put someone else’s needs before our own.
We can wash another’s feet but we have to change our mindset, our focus and our actions to be centered on others rather than centered on self.
Today, find a few ways to wash other’s feet even if it means getting dirty, uncomfortable or downright selfless and learn the lesson Jesus was trying to teach all those years ago.
Beautiful post! Thanks for the inspiration!
Inspirational post! Bless you:)