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Peter: "Blah, blah, blah, blah...." |
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Jesus: "He who has bathed need only wash his feet... but in Peter's case, I might make an exception and wash out his mouth." |
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| READ: John 13:1-17 |
"Blah, Blah, Blah!"
Jesus was saying with His actions that love is not a feeling, it is selfless service. He very seldom expressed His love with sentimental words. He preferred to show it with specific deeds. Washing their feet was a very eloquent way to say, "I love you guys."
Peter says, "No way, man, you will NEVER wash my feet!" Was he embarrassed? Was he caught off guard? "Never" is a strong word. Why wouldn't he receive love from the Master? Maybe he felt he goofed for not arranging for a servant or one of the other disciples to do what was often done for guests at a special occasion.
I was preaching on this passage at a church in Julian, California, where I was the interim pastor. In the middle of my message, I asked for a volunteer. Bernie, the chairman of the elders stepped forward. I proceeded to wash his feet in front of the congregation. When I was finished, I asked him how it made him feel. He said, "Like I should be washing your feet." Maybe that's what Peter was feeling.
The Southern Baptists were criticized for their stand in saying that wives should submit to their husbands. What was missing from the news stories was the fact that the wife was being asked to submit to her husband's loving service. "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it..." (Ephesians 5:25) That's what Peter was being asked to do. He needed to let Christ give Himself. In a few hours, Peter needed to be ready to receive the ultimate act of love from his Master: His death on the cross to pay for Peter's sins.
Jesus said, "You can't have a relationship with me if you don't let me do this." Peter jumps from one extreme to the other. "Then wash everything!" Jesus responds by connecting loving service with spiritual cleansing: "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet." (13:10) The Apostle Paul spoke of Christ giving Himself for the church, he added, "...that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." (Ephesians 5:26)
Then later Jesus adds, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." (13:14) That makes me think of the words in James 5:16: "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed."
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| REFLECT: |
1. Do you get squeamish when another person offers to do something menial for you? Why?
2. Are you reluctant or too busy to do lowly service for others? Why?
3. Do you remember a time you performed an act of humble service for someone? How did it make them feel? How did it make you feel? Why did you do it? |
| RESPOND: |
| "Lord, thank You for loving me enough to die for me. Teach me to love that same way. Cleanse me and then show me someone whose 'feet' I should 'wash.' " |
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