Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
"Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples' feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing.
But when he came to Simon Peter, that disciple asked, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered, “You don’t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“You will never wash my feet!” Peter replied.
“If I don’t wash you,” Jesus told him, “you don’t really belong to me.”
Peter said, “Lord, don’t wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head.”
Jesus answered, “People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet. And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you.” Jesus knew who would betray him. That is why he said, “except for one of you.”
After Jesus had washed his disciples' feet and had put his outer garment back on, he sat down again. Then he said:
Do you understand what I have done? You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should, because that is who I am. And if your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, you should do the same for each other. I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you. I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master, and messengers are not greater than the one who sent them. You know these things, and God will bless you, if you do them." John 13:3-17 (CEV)
Today these verses gave me a ton of new insight but I'll have to share those another day.
Instead for today, let us see at how beautifully this passage sums up our vision: Worship - Connect - Grow - Serve - Go.
Worship
Jesus, knowing where He came from and more importantly where He is going; knows His standing and is not only secure in His relationship with His Father but He also knows how much He is loved, resulting in true worship, one that is real and genuine, a life of dependency, humility, trust and obedience -- the first step.
Connect
Jesus fellowshipped with His disciples. His disciples followed Him, not through a "forced to attend" or a "ritualistic" (one hour a week) meeting. Instead, Jesus created an environment where people came to Him not out of obligation, or because of tradition or a set of rules and regulations. People just followed Him where ever He went, they wanted to stay with Him, and they spent time together and they shared meals, creating loving relationships.
Grow
The result is that the disciples grew in knowledge and wisdom as they spend time with Jesus as He ministered to people and as they sat at His feet, and as they listened to His teachings and His ability to show them both the simple truths and the deep things of life.
Serve
Jesus showed His disciples that no task was beneath Him. He showed real love and geniune service by doing the lowliest of tasks, even washing their feet, showing them and generations to come, how to be a servant-leader.
Go
Jesus said the messengers are not above the One who sent them. Jesus is the One who is sending us, and not empty-handed but rather with the backing of His army of angels and the power of the Holy Spirit. And thus we Go -- to our families, to our neighborhoods, to the market place, to our schools, places of work, cities far and wide and to the ends of the earth until we are called to our supper and home-coming with the One who sent us.
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