His Love & Care
“Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him. So, he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel. But when Jesus got to Simon Peter, he objected and said, “I can’t let you wash my dirty feet—you’re my Lord!” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.” Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!”
“But Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with me.” John 13:3-9
Step into this passage. Imagine yourself as one of the disciples. You have seen this beautiful man for three and half years do many miracles. You have seen blind eyes opened, deaf ears hear, the lame walk, actual limbs being restored, and the deliverance of so many. Most recently you witnessed sitting at a table Mary breaking her alabaster jar to pour out the most expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. Breathe in deep and let yourself take in the fragrance that is likely to still be lingering in the air around Jesus. You’re all sitting around the table just before your meal and you see Jesus, this beautiful Messiah, the King stand up. He is taking his robe off and wrapping a towel around his waist but why? This is something a servant would do. He begins to pour water into the basin. Jesus, Anointed One, what are you doing? You should be sitting at the head of the table as we listen to you share parables.
Jesus astounds the disciples as He begins to wash their feet one at a time. No one is saying anything. One by one He removes their sandals and washes their dirty feet. Then dries them with His towel. The fragrance they must have smelled as He was in front of them. The fragrance of an Anointed King bowing down before them, cleansing their feet.
When Jesus gets to Peter, he refuses to let Him wash his feet. Jesus, you are my Lord. How could I ever allow you to wash my feet. As a matter of fact, you’ll never wash my feet - EVER! Even after Jesus tells him you don’t understand now what I am doing but you will, Peter is like absolutely not. You will not wash my dirty feet. I imagine Peter tucking them under the chair to hide them. Nope, you can’t see them or touch them, Lord.
Isn’t this like us to hide the parts of us that we see as dirty. Maybe just not something you want to show Jesus right out front, right? Maybe you’re saying, “Jesus, I have walked the paths that made my feet dirty. It is by my own doing, how could I let you even look at them much less touch and wash. Why would you want to?”
Jesus tells Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet you will not be able to share life with me. According to the footnotes in The Passion Translation by Jesus removing their sandals and washing their feet, He was showing them that he was granting them a new inheritance- his own. The sandal is often used in covenant of inheritance in the Hebrew culture. Every defilement would be removed so they could place the sole of their feet upon the new covenant inheritance.
Jesus is giving us a beautiful display of tenderness and humility, yet the truth is we can no longer hide our dirty feet from Him. I hear Him saying in tenderness and mercy to us today - Let me cleanse your feet so you can walk in my power and authority to take the ground I have given you as an inheritance. You can’t go to the places I have for you if you are hiding what is going on inside your heart and head.
Yesterday, we talked about writing down who Jesus is to us. Today, allow Him to wash your feet as He continues to reveal Himself to you. The water He pours from His hand over you brings healing and restoration. In return, He will reveal who you are in Him.
