so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13: 4-5
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
John 13: 14-15
It was the custom in Jesus’ day that when someone entered a home, a servant would kneel and wash the guest’s feet. People walked dusty roads all day with sandaled feet. There was no shortage of dirty feet to wash, but in the upper room, there was a shortage of servants. Jesus’ disciples were known to argue over who was greater than the other, so none of them volunteered to serve the other.
Jesus noticed the dirty feet and realized that the disciples were missing an important aspect of following Him. Christianity’s goal is to become more like Jesus by staying connected to Him in prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. We demonstrate our closeness to Jesus by serving each other. The disciples were preoccupied with ambitions of greatness, but Jesus hoped that out of love for Him, they would become servants.
Have we become distracted by our ambitions of greatness? Is it enough for us to quietly express our devotion to Jesus by serving without recognition? This world is desperately in need of Christians who are full of Jesus’ love and willing to wash dirty feet. Christianity is not about a platform or a following. Christianity is about connecting to Jesus and then demonstrating Jesus’ love to everyone around you. Will you follow Jesus?
