Letting Jesus Serve You
Letting Jesus Serve You
Jesus said to Peter, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me (John 13:8).
Jill Biden disguised herself as a stewardess on a flight returning to Washington D.C, and then served the members of the media and her staff. No one recognized the First Lady until she removed her wig and with a huge grin announced, "April Fools!"
Imagine if she had attempted this without a disguise, if she had simply gotten out of her seat and started serving coffee and pretzels. Picture her staff’s shock and bewilderment! They might have said, “Sit down! We’ll do it!”
Jesus' Lowly Service
Likewise, when Jesus donned a towel and grabbed the wash basin, the disciples could not have been more stunned.
Peter sputtered, “What? You? Our Lord and Master, whom we know to be the Son of God, Savior and ruler of the world? Those hands have touched and cleansed lepers, given sight to the blind, and raised the dead. Shall those hands really wash my filthy feet?”*
Jesus told him, “You don’t realize now what I’m doing, but later you’ll understand.” In other words, “You are not in a position to be a competent judge, so you must believe it’s well done because I do it.”*
Peter's Dilemma
However, to Peter the situation remained upside down. He should be serving Jesus, not the other way around. But washing feet? Really? Peter hadn’t compromised his dignity when there were no servants available, and neither should his Master. In other words, he knew better than Jesus.
Jesus’ answer did not make Peter feel any better, in fact his self-righteous embarrassment and shame only increased. Perhaps his feet were unattractive or particularly dirty that day.
The other disciples might let their Master stoop to such undignified work, but Peter would have none of it. He stared down his Master and said, “No way! This is NEVER happening!”
Jesus' Warning
Jesus had a startling comeback, "Unless you endure the humbling required to let me cleanse you, you have no part with me.”
This is a sobering thought, isn’t it? Humble yourself or you forfeit a relationship with Jesus.
Pride so quickly rises when Jesus confronts us with the wash basin. We don’t like exposing our failures, our bad attitudes, and our poor behavior. And we think, Shouldn’t I be able to keep myself clean after a bath? However, the Lord does not want us to be ashamed about our need for daily cleansing. After all, we walk sin-polluted terrain everywhere we go.
Our Christian Service
Some of us constantly feel that we should be serving the Lord and are uncomfortable with the idea of Jesus serving us. We are slow to admit our need. We try to hide our gunk and grime, or worse, attempt to wash ourselves. Authentic service to God suffers if we do not first lower our feet into the water, and let Jesus minister to us as he desires.
Because right here, at this juncture of daily washing, is where intimacy happens; it’s where we reconnect to the Lord, where all is made right. There’s nothing like a good foot bath that refreshes and encourages our hearts.
Jesus washed his disciples' feet to show his love for them (John 13:1b). He washes ours, too, for the same reason.
The question is, Will you let him serve you?
Prayer: Jesus, how beautiful that in my sin weakness, you invite me to continually present my dirty feet. Yes, my Lord, please wash me, for there is no worse prospect than to have no part in you. Draw near, be close, scrub away!
How to receive a foot-washing from Jesus:
Confess.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9.).
Believe and receive.
. . . your sins have been forgiven on account of his name (1 John 2:12b). If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22).
Give thanks.
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you (Psalm 86:5). Give thanks to the Lord for . . . his love endures forever (Psalm 136:1)
*Quotes or paraphrases from Matthew Henry Commentary.
