It’s More Than Just Getting Clean
As we continue our Lenten journey, we find ourselves in the Upper Room with Jesus and His disciples. This is the Last Supper, just before Passover. Many of us have heard the story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet.
Because this story is so familiar, it’s easy for its importance to get lost in the routine of hearing it.
In Jesus’ day, washing your feet was a necessity. People walked everywhere in open sandals through dusty, sandy areas, so their feet were constantly dirty. Washing someone’s feet was similar to taking your shoes off when you visit someone’s home today. It was a respectful thing to do.
But it was also a dirty job, and because of that, it was typically tasked to the lowest servant.
That’s why, in John 13:8-10, we see Peter pushing back when Jesus tries to wash his feet. Peter sees Jesus as a king, not the lowest servant. The problem is, Peter was missing the point. Aren’t we all like Peter? Too often, we miss the point of what Jesus is trying to show and tell us.
Jesus washing His disciples’ feet is not about their feet, but about their dirt.
We all have some dirt that needs to be washed away. The question is: are we going to push Jesus away, or will we let Him wash us and make us clean?
After the dirt is washed away we feel cleaner. We feel different. This kind of washing leads to transformation.
A few weeks ago, we talked about transformation. And it’s important to remember that it happens at a different pace for each of us. We shouldn’t compare the speed of our spiritual growth to someone else’s. Just like measuring the growth of kids on the door jamb, each one grows at a different speed and height.
Our focus should be on our own spiritual growth.
Having someone wash our feet—or us washing someone else’s feet—feels uncomfortable. It pushes us outside of our comfort zones. And I think that was a part of Jesus’ point in this passage (John 13:1-11). We need to be willing to step out of our comfort zones.
Think about a butterfly in a cocoon. It’s warm and cozy in there. The outside world is unknown and probably scary. But if it never pushes through the discomfort, it will never become what it was created to be. Not to mention that we would never get to see its amazing beauty.
Comfort zones look different for everyone.
A couple of weeks ago, I had my own experience of stepping out of mine. I don’t like having my picture taken. I prefer to be behind the scenes. I don’t want the attention to be on or about me.
One afternoon, while I was at the bank, a teller asked if she could take my picture. That immediately caused some anxious concern. After some discussion, I found out it was for a contest between the different branches. Eventually, they convinced me to do it… “to help them in the contest”.
Then they told me I had to sit on a small kid’s tractor.
Talk about stepping out of my comfort zone. That was it.
Whether it’s washing feet, getting your picture taken, or something else entirely, we’re all faced with moments that challenge us.
But if we stay in our cocoon, we will never become who God has made us to be.
