Washing Feet (Discussion Fodder)

"Lord, do you wash my feet?" (John 13:6)

Can you see that picture? The God of the universe, clothed in human flesh, is kneeling on the floor washing the disciples feet. We have done that in small group settings in our church. Generally, however, the feet are clean and soft and nothing like what Jesus must have encountered. In that culture they walked, either in sandals, or barefoot. In West Africa where we work in missions they walk everywhere in flip flops. The feet are calloused, and dirty, and yes, we have done foot washing there as well.

But the whole point of the lesson is that as followers of Christ who would reach a lost world for with the Gospel, we must be willing to do the most common and humbling of tasks. Jesus said that a disciple is not greater than his master. Jesus said that if we understand what He did in washing feet, we should be willing to follow His example.

Do we want the jobs where there is greater glory? Do we prefer the seats of honor? Must we have our name in the headlines, or at least in the church bulletin? Are we willing to humble ourselves and reach out to the homeless? Or what about those with HIV, the leoprosy of our day? Are we willing to go the extra mile? To turn the other cheek? To deny self? To truly humble ourselves? What about loving our enemy? Can we take off our outer garments and get down on our knees in the dirt and wash feet?

Someone once said we actually believe as much of the Bible as we practice or seek to obey. I wonder if this chapter on Jesus washing feet is missing in many of our modern personal Bibles.