A few years ago, on Maundy Thursday, we held a foot-washing ceremony as part of the worship service. The pastors and elders had different stations where we washed people’s feet and told them, “You are clean!”
Afterward, some of the elders were cleaning up, and I overheard one of them saying, “That was hard!” I thought he meant washing so many feet, but he continued, “I’d rather wash everyone’s feet than let mine get washed!”
It was a humbling experience to get our feet washed by someone else. Feet can be . . . well. . . gross. Calluses, corns, fuzz between toes, and an over all funk are not something most of us want to deal with.
It is a humbling experience to be washed of our sins. Hearts can be gross. Calluses, greed, anger, lust, and much more are not something most of us want to deal with. But Jesus does, and he washes it all away, healing and forgiving as he does it.
One of the things that I find fascinating in this chapter is that Jesus will be betrayed by four of the feet he just washed. Two men. Judas and Peter would both turn their backs on Jesus. But Jesus washed their feet.
So Jesus embodies the new command he gives his disciples. The new command that is really an old command re-issued, but now in light of the cross and forgiveness, “just as I have loved you, you also are love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
There will be a lot about love in the next couple chapters. This is a word that has been co-opted and corrupted over the years. Don’t let the way we commonly use “love” fool you. Let’s listen to Jesus and let him teach us what love is as he works his way to the cross to lay down his life because he loves us.
Tina Turner sang a song in the 80’s called, What’s Love Got to Do with It? In it she calls love a second hand emotion and a sweet old fashioned notion. She’s talking about romance, and Jesus is talking about something different, but both are called love. Here’s what Jesus says about it, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Let’s begin this week by praying, “Lord, fill me with your Spirit and teach me to love as you have loved me. Amen.”
Afterward, some of the elders were cleaning up, and I overheard one of them saying, “That was hard!” I thought he meant washing so many feet, but he continued, “I’d rather wash everyone’s feet than let mine get washed!”
It was a humbling experience to get our feet washed by someone else. Feet can be . . . well. . . gross. Calluses, corns, fuzz between toes, and an over all funk are not something most of us want to deal with.
It is a humbling experience to be washed of our sins. Hearts can be gross. Calluses, greed, anger, lust, and much more are not something most of us want to deal with. But Jesus does, and he washes it all away, healing and forgiving as he does it.
One of the things that I find fascinating in this chapter is that Jesus will be betrayed by four of the feet he just washed. Two men. Judas and Peter would both turn their backs on Jesus. But Jesus washed their feet.
So Jesus embodies the new command he gives his disciples. The new command that is really an old command re-issued, but now in light of the cross and forgiveness, “just as I have loved you, you also are love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
There will be a lot about love in the next couple chapters. This is a word that has been co-opted and corrupted over the years. Don’t let the way we commonly use “love” fool you. Let’s listen to Jesus and let him teach us what love is as he works his way to the cross to lay down his life because he loves us.
Tina Turner sang a song in the 80’s called, What’s Love Got to Do with It? In it she calls love a second hand emotion and a sweet old fashioned notion. She’s talking about romance, and Jesus is talking about something different, but both are called love. Here’s what Jesus says about it, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Let’s begin this week by praying, “Lord, fill me with your Spirit and teach me to love as you have loved me. Amen.”
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