This past summer, I had the opportunity to do something I had never done before. It had been my third summer traveling with a camp ministry that I love dearly and we were spending the week in a small town under the hot Georgia sun. My friends and I had planned a staff bonding experience and what we chose to lead the team in was a time of worship and reflection by washing each other’s feet. While I knew it was going to be such a special moment, part of me was a bit hesitant. I had never done that before and I was not the type of person to be that vulnerable to let people whom I had just met a few weeks ago wash my feet. I knew I was going to feel some type of embarrassment. Camp feet are not the prettiest, if I do say so myself.
One by one, our team began entering the sanctuary that night. It was dark, except for a few side lights, and the atmosphere was very calm. Once everyone got there, we read John 13, worshiped through song, and reflected on the humility of Christ as we prepared our hearts and minds. We then took a tub of water and a wash cloth and knelt down across from where our friends were sitting on the first row of pews. They took off their shoes and we began to wash their feet. Something inside of me was overwhelmed. Something I wasn’t expecting. I felt tears well up in my eyes.
All I could think about was my King Jesus. With John 13 in mind, I was overwhelmed by the thought of a holy King, willingly and humbly stooping down to wash His disciples’ feet before He died for them. I could see it so clearly.
That moment of washing the dirt off my friends' feet as water ran down into the bucket, and drying them with a towel, I felt a deeper love for each of them. It was such an intimate and vulnerable moment, leaving me in awe. As we each knelt down, and prayed for each other, I was overwhelmed by the thought of my King Jesus. That the night of His crucifixion, where He would give His life, He knelt down in front of His disciples, “took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with a towel that was wrapped around Him (John 13:4-5)”.
As I washed my friends’ feet, I thought more about that night before my Savior was led to Golgotha. I felt my heart become heavy as I reflected on the crucifixion that my Savior chose to walk through to set me free. Jesus was obedient to His Father to give His life on the cross, bleeding, feeling the agonizing pain, and taking on the weight of sin. And yet, He was obedient to His Father as He lived a life of compassion.
Philippians 2:6-8 says, “Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Tears filled my eyes as I pictured Jesus, the King of kings, coming to His knees. Willingly and lovingly washing the dirt away from His friends’ feet, even those who would betray and deny Him. He did not complain. He did not grumble. He came to serve. My King Jesus knew He would be beaten, whipped, punched and spat at, and He did not complain. He did not fight back. He willingly obeyed His Father to the point of death. And it was all out of love. A selfless love.
Who am I to say that serving is below me? Who am I to say it is too dirty? Too embarrassing? Too gross? Too much? Jesus washed my feet…cleansed my soul…there is no job too dirty for me to do. And what a beautiful truth to know that my Savior still chases me down. He still cleanses me. He still loves me. Even after my dark, dirty, and rebellious heart ran away from His gentle hands and outstretched arms, He still pursues me.
Jesus came to serve. Serving is not about us. It doesn’t matter how we feel. It doesn’t matter if we would rather not stop what we are doing, kneel down and get our hands dirty, in service to the King. Jesus wasn’t just obedient to His Father during the crucifixion, but His whole life - through showing daily compassion, putting others first, and displaying a selfless love for them. Born in such a humble way, the King of kings was born of a virgin in a cattle stall, and lay in a cow’s feeding bowl. Hay sprinkled around, sheep and donkeys resting nearby. Shepherds-the lowest reputations chosen to see Him first. He was born into a family that was not rich. They were not wealthy. The King of kings did not walk in an earthly gown with materialistic jewels and riches…my King kneels. He kneels to the dirty. My King kneels to the broken. My King kneels to the lonely, the hurting, the lost. My King kneels to love and show compassion and mercy.
My King loves you.
That night of the foot washing, I tried to get away without anyone thinking to wash my feet. Yet, one of my friends insisted and I wanted to fight it. It was embarrassing and it was humbling. And in that moment, that small picture reminded me of a Savior who cleanses my ugliness, dirt, and brokenness. He invites us in. He calls us by name. Romans 5:8 says… “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Throughout my life, I have struggled so much to bring the worst of myself in obedient surrender to the Lord. Letting go and freely surrendering to Him to work in my heart is difficult. In my pride, I want to “cleanse myself.” I want to hide it all away. I want to do it all on my own. I don’t want help. I don’t want to expose my weakness. It is too embarrassing. I am too broken.
I am too dirty.
Have you ever thought that?
“‘No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me’” (John 13:8).
What a humbling scene. Can you picture it?
As my friend washed my feet I was overwhelmed with the truth that Jesus desires to cleanse us. Me…a dirty mess. A rebellious and prideful heart. I was left in awe to picture it. Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords is worthy to be praised. He sits on the throne. He reigns forever and ever. Philippians 2:9-11 continues to say, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
My friends, we worship a beautiful Savior. A King who is above every king and the Lord over all others. We were created to worship Him and in Him is freedom and fullness. Doesn’t it blow your mind and leave you in awe that the Holy of holies desires to have a personal relationship with you?
The Old Testament points to the coming King who will save the world. And this King grew up as a carpenter, getting His hands dirty from serving, and living His life in love and gentleness. Jesus, the King, in His ministry had no earthly home, was pushed aside as a lunatic and liar. Jesus, the King, remained silent as a lamb to the slaughter as He was led to be killed and die a death fit for a guilty criminal.
It was all in love.
Matthew 20:28 says, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
His example of an obedient life of service to His Father should be what we strive for in daily excitement and passion. Serving may look like sitting with a neighbor who needs someone to talk to. It may be taking the time to help someone with yard work, pulling their weeds, or mowing their lawn if they cannot do it on their own. It may be sitting and talking with that girl or boy at school who is the “outcast”. It is getting out of our comfort zones to give up our “earthly reputation” with the desire to please the Lord. It is living out humility and living in a way that follows in the footsteps of Jesus. We cannot walk in true humility unless we walk with Jesus, and we will not know what true humility is unless we know Him. He is the most beautiful picture of humility.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14-15).
Serving is not about us. Serving may not always make us look the prettiest, the most popular, or the most “esteemed” to the world’s eyes, yet it makes us look more like Christ. The King who sacrificed and gave His life. The King who washed dirty feet with compassion, love, and humility.
The King who kneels.
And one day, what a joy it will be to kneel before His throne, singing holy forevermore.
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