Whose Feet Can I Wash?

If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.
--John 13:14-15

How influenced are we by the world around us? A simple question, yet one that is not easily answered. We live in the midst of a society obsessed with money and possession, blinded by power and privilege, and mesmerized by sex and beauty. Yet underneath each of these desires—giving them their power and driving them onward—is a deep, abiding selfishness. At its heart, we live in a world driven, fueled, and motivated by self-interest. Everything is centered on the fulfillment of our own urges and wants.

Each of us, I think, would readily agree to such an assessment—it is virtually impossible to deny this characteristic of modern society. Yet I wonder whether we would so readily agree to our own participation in this mindset. Put simply, it is easy enough (and at times quite fulfilling and self-justifying) to say that everyone around us is selfish, yet it is much more difficult to admit to such darkness in our own souls.

Jesus’ words here stand in stark contrast to such self-interest. In Jesus day—a world devoid of advanced transportation—virtually all travel was done on foot by way of dry, dusty roads. As such, the feet of any traveler would quickly become unbelievably filthy. Thus, it was the job of the lowliest servant in any given house to wash the feet of guests prior to the meal—not only for concerns of comfort and sanitation, but also as a sign of respect and honor for the guest.

Yet interestingly enough, Jesus here—at the beginning of his last supper with his closest followers—takes on such a menial, demeaning task. Why? Why would he take both the time and dishonor to do such a thing? Would there not be someone else capable of the task?

Of course there were others capable—Jesus did this intentionally. He takes these significant, fleeting, precious moments to teach his followers one of his greatest lessons—that this was the manner in which they were to live their lives. In direct opposition to the selfishness of both then and now, he states by these simple actions and words that life—the true life that God intended—was meant to be lived differently. Rather than a life characterized by blind self-interest, we are to live in wanton self-sacrifice and generosity.

So a question for us all—whose feet can you wash today?

Comments

[Paul Sanchez]

Hey enjoyed this post. I'm going to tell my friend about your blog. He just started blogging. In fact here is a link to his blog:
http://blog.jfirstcause.org/

take care,

Paul