Beth, Brennen, and I have been attending Area10 Faith Community. Recently their lead pastor, Chris Barras, has been doing a series called Downward Mobility. It’s a really great series about living counter-cultural by seeking a life that uses our authority, time, stuff, and influence for God and not for our own advancement. Each of the messages have been very timely for me as I seek out another career/ministry location.
Today’s message on influence was great mostly because it focused on one of my favorite events of Jesus’ life…when he washed his disciples’ feet. 2 things in the John 13 account of it really jump out at me…
1.
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal…and began to wash his disciples’ feet
I love the fact that Jesus knew exactly who he was (is) and why God sent him there and what he was capable of, etc…and with that in mind, he just gets up and does the job of a servant. He didn’t stop and think, “I wonder what kind of act I could do to show my humility and love for these guys.” He just did it because that’s who he was and that’s who I want to be. I don’t want to have to think about it. I just want it to happen. Not that I am anything near what Jesus was (is) but I still want to serve like he served.
2.
(He) began to wash his disciples’ feet
This isn’t as much of a life lesson for me but when I read this I started to wonder what today’s version of “washing feet” is. I’ve been to events where there has been foot-washing and to be totally honest it was more awkward than effective for me. I was more focused on “ok, what’s everyone thinking”…”how does this make everyone feel” than I was about how awesome and humbling it is. So, I wonder what is today’s version of foot-washing? Maybe it’s not even one particular thing. Maybe it’s different for each person. Maybe it’s different each day or different in each situation. Whatever it is, I want to find it and that’s how I want to spend my time. But with the first part of this entry in mind, I don’t want to stop and think about doing it, I just want that to be who I am and how I live.
What are your thoughts about this passage in John 13. Read it and leave a comment below.
“Washing feet” was a dirty job, normally meant to be done by the lowest of house servants; walking the streets of ancient Israel was “not clean” to be nice about it–think roaming animals, waste, no pavement, etc. (As an aside, consider that it was the water used for washing feet that Jesus turned to wine in Cana.) Anyway, washing feet was a job that needed to be done–and no one volunteered to do it. No one considered themselves to be a servant. So, looking for today’s foot washing? Consider any job that (a) needs to be done and (b) that no one else thinks it is their job to do. And wash away.