Have You Ever Washed Dirty Feet?

Submission for Life Notes for The Sentinel


In the Scriptures in John chapter 13, Jesus washes the disciples feet. It is a story worth reading and reflecting on because in it, Jesus models for us a lifestyle that we are to emulate. By this simple act, Jesus demonstrates the key to significance in His Kingdom.

Foot washing in Jesus' time was more than just a ritual, it was a necessity. The primary means of transportation was the feet and the streets were not paved in that day. In a busy village, the main avenues would have been filthy—mud, refuse and animal droppings were all underfoot continually. Needless to say, by the end of the day, your feet were covered in grime, your sandals having done very little to keep your feet clean.

So every evening, before the meal, the lowest person in the house—usually the servant or slave—would be called in to wash everyone's feet, one at a time. It was an undesirable task—not only were you coming into contact with the filth from the street, but you also had to handle people's feet! I can just imagine having to deal with the grime under the toe nails, the corns and that special stuff that builds up between the toes. What a job!

And this was the task that Jesus used to illustrate that our lives are supposed to be about serving others. As the story goes, one evening He and the disciples were there together preparing for the meal and the servant was nowhere to be found. Who was going to wash their feet?

It is clear from the story that nobody seemed altogether too keen on jumping to the task. I imagine Jesus may have looked around just to see if any of His students had picked up on His teachings about greatness. But it appears that no one made a move. So Jesus picked up a towel and a basin and began to wash their feet.

For the disciples, it was a great shock. It was unimaginable that the greatest person in the room—the Rabbi—would stoop to do a task that only the lowest person among them was expected to do. In the absence of the servant, Jesus could have picked out one of the disciples and instructed him to do it. But instead, it was Jesus Himself that chose to perform this lowly task.

There is something about the idea of washing someone's feet that makes it such a great picture of service. It is generally something that no one wants to do. It is something that is often uncomfortable, both for the one being washed and for the one doing the washing. It is uncomfortable not because of the washing but because of the exposure to this part of the body that is often hidden away under layers of socks and shoes.

It is also something that is meaningful. For the disciples, it was essential—in a few moments they were going to recline at the table and their feet would be in close proximity to their neighbor's face. This wasn't something that didn't matter—it was vitally important!

So Jesus washes their feet and then tells them that their role in life is to be a servant to others—to wash one another's feet. And that is our charge from Jesus today. We too are called to be foot washers. We are called to serve others and to do those things that perhaps no one else wants to do. Sometimes service makes us uncomfortable. Sometimes we feel that the task is beneath us. But it is the key to greatness in the Kingdom of God.

So the next time you are tempted to say "that job is beneath me" or "I won't serve because it makes me too uncomfortable", think back to what Jesus did. He picked up the towel and showed the way for us.

To learn more about the Kingdom, why don't you make plans to visit one of the great churches in Kings County this weekend? The pastors would love to help you understand how Jesus' principles for living can revolutionize your life.