Washing each other's feet!

 John 13 - 14.15

"And since I, your Lord, and teacher have washed your feet, you ought to wash each others feet.  I have given you an example to follow.  Do as I have done to you". 

If someone asked you to wash their feet today, I'm sure you would turn up your nose - what a horrible thing to do; washing someone's smelly feet!  However, feet washing in the bible was a common custom due to people's feet being dusty and dirty from the rough terrain.  They would often walk miles on dusty roads only wearing sandals so when they entered someone's home it would be customary for them to wash their feet. It was an act of hospitality and humility. 

Feet washing was usually carried out by the lowest ranking person in the household. Jewish servants were often not permitted to wash feet and was left to gentile servants instead.  Jewish servants generally held a higher religious, legal and social standing in Jewish society and was considered a brother rather than a slave. Gentile servants were often seen as slaves and held lower status in the community.  

Before the Passover meal, Jesus lovingly washed his disciples feet as they entered for the meal. Peter was astonished and appalled, so much so he said to Jesus, in John 13 v 8, "No Jesus, you will never wash my feet".  Jesus answered and said, "Unless I wash your feet you have no part of me". Bearing in mind as well feet washing was usually reserved for the lowest ranking slaves, unlike Jesus who was Jewish and claimed to be the Son of God - the most highest ranking person who was to ever live! 

In Peter's position, I probably would have answered in the same way.  What was Jesus meaning here, as his answer sounded a little bit harsh?  Jesus wasn't being mean to Peter, but using the feet washing as a picture of what he was about to do on the cross, as by doing so, Jesus can make all of us clean and washed from our sin.  It was understandable why Peter didn't yet understand what Jesus was meaning. Jesus says in verse 7, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand".  Jesus was meaning, that when he goes to the cross his life would be a sacrifice for many to wash away the sins of the whole world. 

Not only was Jesus teaching servant leadership but also how to love one another.  The disciples realised this act of washing their feet was the ultimate proof of Jesus' love for them.  In their mind, it was the highest thing Jesus could do, not realising what was to come, that Jesus wasn't going to just wash their feet as a servant, but would be willing to die for them on the cross. At this point, they had no idea of the extent of Jesus' love for them and that it would go far beyond him just washing their feet, that he would experience the horror of the cross and pour out his love for the whole of the human race throughout eternity. 

And that's true for us too, Jesus loved us so much that he didn't just teach us and leave his messages of hope in the bible for us to live by, it went far beyond just that, by him dying for us to wash us clean from our wrong doing and to defeat death, in order for us to one day also defeat death and go to heaven to be with him.  

Jesus was showing his love and humility for all mankind, he wanted to demonstrate to his disciples, that this kind of love and servant leadership was for everyone to participate in.  It doesn't matter our background or status, but we can all love one another and serve one another in humility. We should never think of ourselves more highly than we ought.  Jesus, the king of all kings was washing feet, so what can we then do to help those around us? Wow, what an example to live by. 

Prayer:  Thank you Jesus, that you went to the cross to wash me clean of my sins.  Thank you I am now able to be forgiven and experience heaven.  Thank you for your example of washing feet and may you help in me in my own life to be a servant to many, and help those around me.  Bring opportunities along where I am able to show people your love in a greater way.  Amen 

An Inside Job

Have you ever bit into an apple, it looked lovely on the outside but on the inside it was bad.  All you could see inside was something brown and bruised. 

This can be like our lives, we like to show on the outside how good we are and how great things are going, but inside we can be struggling, we can be bruised and have broken circumstances to deal with.  Sometimes we carry our pain alone.  We feel like no-one would ever understand and, if we were to share our struggles, we would only be judged.  

There is good news, as God completely understands our pain and can lift every burden and bruise from our lives.  He wants to heal your bruises and make you whole and healthy again. Just like the apple; when we eat a healthy fresh apple, it can give us the nutrients we need for sustenance.  And even better than this, as you gain your strength back from God, your life can then help to heal others as well.

Sometimes the burdens inside can unfortunately be our own doing. It can be things we've done or said that we regret and have hurt others, it can be unforgiveness or disagreements.  Our outward appearance may seem to others unscathed, but we carry the burden of knowing our true selves and God sees it, but also loves us all the same! 

The pharisees looked right on the outside; they prayed, they tithed, they worshipped, they preached, they helped the needy, but Jesus could see right through all their pomp and ceremony!  Jesus could see the impurity inside of them and the judgemental attitudes towards others.  They looked humble on the outside but secretly they thought of themselves more holy and religious than everyone else.  That's why just being religious doesn't work, there needs to be more to our faith than a set of rules and regulations to follow. 

Matt 23, 12, Jesus said, whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted higher! 

God doesn't want to see a performance that is untrue, but a transformed heart from within. All the good in our lives starts from within us, the parts that no-one else can see but God. God goes on to say that when we come to him, he wants us to come just as we are, not see a performance as a perfect person, but come to him authentically and humbly.  We shouldn't come to God and pretend we've got everything sorted out in our lives - God certainly knows everything about us, so there is no point in pretending.  

John 4 23-24, It's who you are and the way you live that count before God.  Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth.  That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for, those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.  God is sheer being itself - Spirit.  Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits their true selves in adoration. 

A life that appears perfect and holy can still be empty within, unless God steps in to transform our hearts.  Jesus always spoke from what he saw within a person, not from their outward veneer, skills or performance.  God sees straight into our hearts, hears our intentions and knows our every desire. 

We need to ask the question, what are we carrying within us today?  Whether pain, bruises or sin, God wants to heal you and set you free.  He wants a personal relationship with you that can flourish, so you can live the best and most successful life possible.  

All we need is humility to say, "yes God, I got this wrong, I need your help here, please help me and forgive me because I want to change for the better".  If you pray that prayer, the power that will come into your life will not be matched with anything you've ever experienced before because God can transform a humble heart from the inside out! Only the power of God, that is more powerful than anything in this world could ever do that for you!  Whether you are hurting or bruised let God in today to transform you inwardly.