WASHING OTHERS' FEET // NOVEMBER 15, 2023
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 13:5
In an illustrative farewell message to his disciples before preparing for a bigger storm, it felt shocking to have Jesus wash the disciples' feet. Not even a servant would do that, yet here was their water-walking lord and teacher doing such a menial task.
Jesus knew the disciples had a competitive spirit within them. He empowered them, yet they were arguing about who was the greatest among them. We see it in culture and churches today; that same sense of selfishness, pride, competition and criticism. If we're honest, we see it within ourselves, too. We're not likely to wash someone else's feet if we're unwilling to first acknowledge the condition of our own hearts. Notice that Jesus didn't talk to the disciples about washing others' feet, he modeled it.
What's one thing you can do today to wash someone else's feet? You won't understand Jesus' posture unless you're doing it. Humility is not thinking less of yourself but about yourself less.