Recently, I have been personally convinced about the true power and destructive nature of hurricane water and winds, because I am experiencing the lingering effects of Helene and Milton on our home. In the past, I knew about the power of hurricanes; I watched others suffer, but until we personally taste that experience, no human being can really understand the scope of the devastating helplessness, the grief of loss, and the challenge of restoration. There is something about experiential learning that brings a whole new awareness to the reality of nature and God’s purposes to connect the temporal with his eternal plan.
In our passage today from the gospel of John, the disciples struggle to gain a full understanding from Christ’s example of power, purpose, and passion in the temporal realm. Foot washing? Huh, what does he mean? Jesus has used simple signs and symbols to demonstrate eternal realities. The disciples have walked on earth with the Lord for three years and they have seen him do one miracle after another, yet they do not know how Christ’s coming as the Son of God changes everything for the future. Christ knows the purpose, but the disciples must experience the grief flowing from the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord in order for them to really know.
We should not be too tough on the disciples, because at times we can struggle to gain a bigger vision of God, as well. For example, why would God permit nature to batter a devastating blow to a coastline or flood surrounding states? I believe there is a very righteous answer for that question, but we must decide if we are going to see things from a human perspective or grow in our understanding of God’s perspective given by imparted divine wisdom.
Sometimes God allows things to happen in our lives, so the blinders the enemy has placed on human understanding are removed by reality. God wants us to know his love has come to forgive sin and rescue those who confess their need for him. God wants us to know the blood of Jesus is the only sacrifice that will protect people from eternal destruction. God wants his disciples to know the Truth of his purpose, because they need to lead others away from evil and into the Light or Revelation of Christ. It is a life and death situation we all face. Because God wants to save all of creation he allows suffering so we will turn to him and realize our greatest need is HIM! May our washed feet help us walk into the lives of others and share the Truth of God’s greatest gift—Jesus—and the rescue he alone brings.
John 13:1-17 NLT Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end [full extent of Christ’s love] .2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[devil used Judas] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your Word, today. Help us to understand your righteous plan of salvation and how everything—even suffering—plays into it. When we suffer loss, we invite you to become what we lack. When we suffer with sin and call your name you come and wash us with your redeeming and forgiving love. When we suffer with worldliness, you help us see how fleeting the temporal is and help us walk in your pure righteousness. Then, we know how to tell others the Truth from our experience. Thank you for helping us see from your perspective. In Jesus’ name. Amen.