Friday, March 9, 2018
John 13:5 Then [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
THE SAVIOR WHO WASHES
There's an old saying in photography: "Everybody has feet." The meaning is that if you're taking a photo, don't include the feet because feet are not exciting, not noteworthy, not nice to look at, nor really that pleasant at all. The photographers are right. Feet are not that pleasant, and they tend to carry an unpleasant stink at which we tend to recoil. But Jesus did not recoil. Not on the evening of Maundy Thursday in the upper room at the feet of his disciples.
At the end of a long day, your feet are probably tired and unpleasant. In this Lenten season, more than any other time of the year, we look down at our feet and we see our own greed and envy, our lack of love for our neighbor has been layered there, our sins which are stinking up our feet.
Look at the incredible love that our humble Jesus showed that Thursday evening! He, who had been present at the beginning of time and had participated in the creation of all things, now filled a bucket and picked up a towel. Jesus washed dirty, stinky feet with water that evening--and the next morning he washed away sin with his blood on the cross. Jesus' hands took the feet of his disciples that evening, and the next morning they took the nails that pinned him to the tree.
Cleansed by Jesus' blood, we still must walk the world's dusty roads. But we do so joyfully knowing that our burden of sin has been removed and placed on the back of our brother Jesus who invites us: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
