On Thursday of the week he was to die, Jesus did something no one expected. During a meal with his disciples, he got up from the table and began
to wash their grimy feet. The road dust, bits of donkey manure, and other kinds of grit on their feet yielded to his gentle hands and the clean water. The towel around his waist dried their feet, and left their feet refreshed.
But only their feet. Their minds were just as much a mess as ever. Simon Peter argued with Jesus, not yet recognizing the symbolism, objecting to his rabbi taking on that servant position. The others, looking on in amazement, may have had some of the same ideas but didn't express them. All of them were in turmoil, and misunderstood the moment until much later. Judas Iscariot also experienced his master's touch. Because of his inner conflicts with Jesus, he may have appreciated the act of service least of all.
You and I, though: do we understand how to serve as Jesus did? Sometimes, I'm sure we do; often, we are busy with our own tasks and don't even think about it. Today, the anniversary of that night in Jerusalem, would be a good time to practice. Can you go out of your way to serve someone humbly, unexpectedly, today? Whom would you serve? You might not have to look far; oftentimes it's our own spouses who feel the most neglected of our true focused attention.
And then, do we know how to accept service from someone else? Protesting, not letting ourselves be served, speaks of pride and control issues, which I have just like you. Can you and I be humble enough to be served? Or do we insist on staying in control, making everything turn out the way we want?
Yes, there are lots of lessons from one night in Jerusalem. Maybe we ought to stop and pray through them with our Savior the footwasher. And follow in his footsteps.
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