Would you Wash Too?

Because of what Christ did on the cross, death has lost it’s sting as He conquered the grave. But He also sacrificed. Not just that he did this glorious thing, but the mere fact that every part of his life was messy and complicated in our worldly view. Aspects like being born in a barn to a young mom, or the complications of being baptized by a mere man (can you imagine the church committee meeting that would happen nowadays deciding who would baptize Jesus?), but what really stood out this year was Jesus washing the disciples feet. In John 13 it says:

“1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”
“6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ 7 Jesus 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!’

It is so easy for us to get into this mindset that if something is messy or hard, then it is not from God. But this story is a prime example of who we are in Christ. We are called to get down and wash the feet of the dirtiest of the dirty. This aspect of Christ’s life is not mentioned so that we may boast in his glory, but rather that we would see his glory through his ultimate humility. What Christ is doing is showing the disciples, and us, that following him means sacrificing ourselves in the same way Christ sacrificed everything for us.

“12 When 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. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Do you realize that Jesus washed Judas’ feet too? The same Judas who Jesus knew had betrayed him in the most gruesome and diabolical way. Why do we not wash the feet of our enemies? Why do we decide who is worthy of the Gospel? Christ shows us in this story that everyone is a part of what he did on that cross. Christ served his greatest enemy, not because he needed to, but because he overcame sin to love the unlovable. He knew what Judas did, he wasn’t blind to what the things Judas set in motion would mean to him; but instead he served the unworthy. What a beautiful example of a sacrificial and unchanging love.

Ask yourself; would you wash the feet of the Judas of your life? What are we willing to sacrifice so others may know the glory that is the Gospel? Our pride? Our dignity? Our comfort? Would we sacrifice anything? If we say no to that, then we must reexamine if we are truly living as Christ did.

About Kaylee

Kaylee is raising support to be on staff with Master Plan Ministries in Denver, Co with her wonderful husband, Patrick. She loves starring life with her only daughter, Shiloh. She enjoys photography, movies, frisbee golf and anything that has to do with people! If you would like to learn more about Kaylee and her husband's journey into full time ministry read about it right here. 

Sharing this article over at these awesome blogs.

---