MAUNDY THURSDAY APRIL 01, 2010

By: Marcia Paul
Sole to Soul
John 13: 1-17, 31b-35

What shape are your feet in this evening? Do you have blisters on your soles and bunions on your toes or are your feet nicely pedicured? Foot washing is a menial task at best. Who wants to wash dirty, smelly feet? If Jesus was to show up with a basin of water and a towel wrapped around his waist, would you allow Him to wash your feet? Would you wash each other’s feet? Our feet are probably 100 times cleaner than the disciples feet were in that upper room on the eve of our Lord’s crucifixion, but guess who washed their feet?

Foot washing was a common practice in Jesus’ day. There were dirt roads which were deep in dust during the dry season and then turned to liquid mud in the rainy season. The sandals worn in those times did not protect the people’s feet from the dust or the mud, not to mention the donkey and camel poop. Most houses had big water pots at the doors and servants waiting with pitcher and towel to wash the feet of the guests before they entered. Jesus and His disciples had no servants and they probably had to share the duties among themselves. When they entered the upper room for their meal, there was no-one to wash feet. So why didn’t one of the disciples jump to the task?

As they walked into the room they must have seen the basin and towel, but were probably thinking… “It’s not my turn, I washed feet last time.” “If I volunteer, they will probably expect me to do it all the time.” “Somebody should at least wash Jesus’ feet, but not me. I came to enjoy myself with my Lord”. Does this all sound familiar? Much like “Why do I have to wash the dishes all the time, why can’t Susie do them?” “Somebody needs to greet those newcomers, but that’s not my calling” “That person is sitting in my pew and won’t move, so I’m leaving.” “I’m not doing that. It’s not in my job description”. Nobody stooped to the occasion except for Jesus. After all, He knew that He had come to serve.

During World War II, England needed to increase its coal production. Winston Churchill met with the labor leaders to ask for their support. When he had finished with his presentation, he asked the leaders to picture in their minds a parade which he knew would go through Piccadilly Circus at the end of the war. “First”, he said “would come, the sailors who had kept the vital sea lanes open. Then would come, the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa. Then the pilots who had kept the sky safe would follow. Last of all, would come, a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked miners. Someone in the crowd would shout ‘And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?’ And ten thousand men would reply, ‘We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal” We are not all called to do glamorous work. Each of us has been blessed with certain gifts which we are called to use to benefit each other and to glorify God. Sometimes we have to put our “faces to the coal” or like in the Gospel, our “faces to the feet” in order to get the job done.

The disciples, especially Peter, were mortified when their Lord humbled himself by, taking off His clothing and wrapping a towel around his waist, proceeded to wash their feet. Peter was probably praying that someone would take over from Jesus before Jesus got to him. “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” “No. You shall never wash my feet”. Peter was refusing to accept the grace that Christ was so freely giving to him. But Jesus knew that even though he did not understand at that time, he would understand in the days to come. Although Peter was ashamed of the situation that he found himself in, he did nothing about it. He probably figured that if his feet were not washed, he would not be obligated to wash anybody else’s feet. Then he wants a full bath! He missed the point completely. It wasn’t really about being clean - it was about loving one another. It wasn’t about feet - it was about serving.

Jesus knew what was ahead of him and wanted to set an example for his friends. He wanted to show His love for them so that they in turn would show that same love to each other. Isn’t this the same example that Jesus left for us to follow? We are called to humble ourselves and to serve one another in love. Jesus said, “Now That I, Your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” We are called to be Jesus' hands and feet, to love out loud, take His love to the streets, to show compassion to a soul in need.

What do you believe that Jesus was thinking while he washed the disciples’ feet? He knew that those 24 feet were going to desert him in a few hours, especially Judas who would betray him. That night He cleansed soles with water and a towel, the next day He saved souls with the shedding of His blood.

Jesus asked the disciples “Do you understand what I have done for you?” Do we understand what Jesus has done for us? It really isn’t about washing feet or having our needs met. It is far more than that. It is about the grace, the forgiveness and the cleansing that took place at the cross because of God’s love for us. It is about a personal change of attitude and way of thinking. It’s about becoming a servant like Jesus. But if you are ever called to wash feet, thank God that we no longer have dirt roads and that we have other means of transportation besides donkeys, camels or our feet.

So, what shape are you in tonight? Do you have blisters on your heart or is your heart filled with joy and peace? Guess whose love can fill you from the soles of your feet to the depths of your souls?

Amen.