Happy Sunday to all of you.
The gentle and humble lifestyle of the Savior is nowhere more evident than in the scene recorded in John 13 where He washed the feet of His friends, the disciples.
Beloved, on that occasion He left us some timeless principles regarding serving God. I’m speaking about principles we shouldn’t ignore.
Our setting this morning is first-century Jerusalem. There were very few paved roads. In fact, inside most cities they were unheard of.
The roads and alleys in Jerusalem were more like winding dirt trails, all covered with a thick layer of dust. When the rains came, those paths were liquid slush, several inches of thick mud.
Back then it was a tradition, for the host to provide a slave at the door of his home to wash the feet of the dinner guests as they arrived.
The servant would kneel with a pitcher of water, a pan, and a towel and wash the dirt or mud off the feet of each guest as he prepared to enter the home. Shoes, boots, and sandals were left at the door, a tradition that is still prevalent in Southeast Asia.
If a home could not afford a slave, one of the early-arriving guests would graciously take upon himself the role of the house servant and wash the feet of those who came.
And you know what I found that was interesting? None of the disciples volunteered for that lowly task. So the room was filled with proud hearts and dirty feet. Interestingly, those disciples were willing to fight for a throne, but not a towel.
Beloved, things haven’t changed a lot since then, have they?
I want you to read John 13:3–11 slowly and carefully for what transpired:
Jesus . . . got up from supper . . . and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So, He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason, He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Beloved, many put up an illusion when it comes to serving. But when there’s a sub-par job it’s turned away as if it was a bad illness. Many will scatter, and many will hide. Both missing their blessing(s).
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