Stinky Feet

“You shall never wash my feet!” (John 13:8 NKJV)

Dr. Scholl’s was not in existence when Jesus decided to take it upon Himself to do a little foot care unto His disciples. It was not actually about their feet anyway but it would be something they would never forget. From that point onward every time they entered a house and had a servant wash their dirty feet it would be a constant reminder of who Jesus is; and who they were.

The event was a strike against pride, the kind of pride that says that we can wash our own feet. You know what I’m saying. The kind of pride that says we have been saved, washed in the Blood, born again, redeemed, and all the other Christianese phrases you can think of. Christianese? The language of church folk. It is foreign to the unbeliever. They may hear it and have some idea what it means but are not able to connect it with the Gospel. Foot washing is not literally required in order to be saved. Many churches have foot washings and that is fine as long as we realize it is an illustration of servitude. Servitude that starts with letting Christ wash our feet that we may allow Him to wash the feet of others through us. Or did you think it was about you and you serving others? If so, that is the pride Jesus was putting down.

Peter did not consider himself worthy enough to have his feet washed by his Master. Human pride in his heart spoke for him. Jesus came to save sinners and if we think for one minute we are not worthy of His grace and mercy, we will perish being to prideful to submit to One greater than us. “Let Me wash your feet Peter, or you are not My disciple.” That is how I translate what Jesus said to him. Old Pete got the message; “wash all of me then,” he said. You and I are His disciples if we allow Him to do for us what we need done. Church going, Bible reading, foot washing, communion taking, are all good things but do not wash our feet. Only Jesus can cleanse our sin stained bodies. We stick our dirty feet into His pan if we want to be His. We then are to tell others what He has done for us and invite them to have a seat and let Him do it for them.

Feeling stressed? Worried? Sick? Afraid? Have a seat, put your feet in Jesus’ hands, and walk away humbled, refreshed and strengthened having dealt a blow against your pride.