My Dirty Feet // John 13:1-17

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet 1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Footnotes:

John 13:1 Or he loved them to the last

Words, phrases that stuck out to me:

*** ...the full extent of his love.; verse 1: I can't even fathom what the extent of the Savior's love is. But just the fact he would give us a taste is simply amazing. Jesus was truly willing (no, more than willing...he wanted to!)show the love of God himself to us... I need to realize that God's love is something that I may never be able to truly grasp (as all I can compare to is earthly versions of love that, while amazing in their own right, are flawed and imperfect), but that it is there...and the phrase that keeps coming to me is that, "God is bonkers about us". If I'm bonkers for someone or something...I will go to all ends to be with them...to love them...to serve them...no matter what...

*** "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."; verse 8: Peter's response to Jesus wishing to stoop so low to wash his feet is a microcosm to the pride we all have. We think too easily that we are "above" things, that we can handle stuff on our own, that while we "think" we need God...we really don't believe it too often. Jesus' response is one we all need to take to heart: if you don't let me cleanse you, let me do this...then you aren't really with me. That's hard for all of us to hear. I know I struggle with the concept of really giving up all my crud to Jesus so he can clean me. I want to hold on. I want to try and take care of business myself, in my own strength. But I will never get it done... I need to daily submit my failings, my concerns, my struggles to Christ, and LET him deal with them...let him clean me.

*** "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean."; verse 10: When I first read this during my morning reading, it stuck out to me but I was thinking, "What on EARTH does that mean?" I figured I'd just put it here and say that I had no idea... But, as I sit here and revisit this passage, something came to me. Not sure if it's right or not, but here goes...

When we first truly surrender to Christ, truly realize the depth of our fallen nature, we are washed clean from head-to-toe. White as snow, pure in God's eyes, etc. But sometimes we need to seek cleaning again...but Jesus says, "My cleansing of you is sufficient once-and-for-all, but I know there are times you feel the need to be hosed off again...let me serve you again, wash your feet, as you feet are what lead you down various paths, some that may make things muddy...but remember that I have already cleaned your whole being!"

That's just what it's saying to me right now I suppose...

*** "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."; verse 15: While I certainly believe that Jesus is IMMEASURABLY more than just an "example for us" (how about savior, redeemer, God-in-the-flesh, etc.?), but still, if we want to know more about God himself, want to know how to approach life in his ways, etc...we need to look no further than Jesus' own example, and apply it. Easy? Nope...but aspire we must!

Questions for me...

Am I even realizing a taste of how bonkers God is for me, especially in light of Jesus?

Do I let Christ cleanse my soul? Do I know he's done it? That he's willing?

How am I seeking to live Christ's example today? What ways do I need to humble myself, remove my pride, etc., to better live for Jesus?