John 13:1 - It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
These words lead us to the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet in the upper room. I'm sure the disciples were dumb-founded when they watched Jesus gather a basin and towel and kneeled down on his knees to wash their feet. "No Way!" was Peter's response. Very similar to what John the Baptist did when Jesus come to him to be baptized. It seems as though the roles are reversed. After he finished he asked them, "Do you understand what I have done for you?" I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. For no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." (vss. 12-16)
Hmm? Now I'm confused too? Was Jesus telling the disciples that they weren't any better than anyone else or was he eluding to something else? Was he viewing them as the servants or the masters? What about himself? Was he describing himself as the servant or the master? His words don't seem to be rocket science? We all know that servants aren't greater than their masters, right? It seems as if he is taking on the role of the servant, in essence, telling the disciples if he is called to serve, they better know that they are also called to serve. I'm convinced that he is telling them, you have been close to me, but don't take that as being something that keeps you from "washing the feet of others." Serve others out of humility and love; love for God and love for each other. Remember, verse 1 said Jesus was going to show them the "full extent" of his love.
Oh, and lest I forget, in verse 17 he tells them they will be blessed if they do love/serve others. Over the last couple of months, I've been helping a homless man who desprately needs work and a place to lay his head at night. I've tried to find help, but to no avail. Today, I'm beginning to realize that up to this point all I wanted to do was help, now, I need to wash his feet. Not literally, but I need to make myself available to him and to serve him out of love for him and more importantly out of love for God. I'm beginning to have a closer look at what "the least of these" really looks like. What I've discovered is that they look an awful lot like Jesus!
