Washing Feet For Jesus Series

And Watchman Nee went on to explain that in the poorest of areas the people had the greatest sense of humility. And he said that the one who was considered to be the most spiritual got to do the greatest work of humility and so it was considered an honor to clean out the outhouse.

Foot washing is a wonderful image of humility and hospitality and I think we should practice whatever is going to put people at ease but I don’t think actually washing anybodies feet is going to do this today. At the same time I think we should be always be willing to condescend and do what we can to serve one another with an attitude of humility and that simply means doing what needs to be done.

I’m sure there was a knack to washing feet. The feet are sensitive and the purpose of washing them wasn’t really to get them clean but it was meant to refresh the one who was traveling on hot and dusty roads. And when you washed them you had to be careful, the water couldn’t be too hot or too cold and you also had to be very gentle. Some people are ticklish and others may have problems with their feet.

I was thinking about how this applies to our relationships with one another and it reminds me that we can’t always be like a bull in a china shop knowing that others may be going through deep waters in their lives. And who knows, there may come a time when we’ll be the ones who need a sensitive and caring ear.

I think this passage tells us something about our attitude. I think it tells us that we as Christians should be very sensitive to the needs of others and more concerned with serving rather than who’s in charge. It’s a choice between pride and humility. And when you are tempted to put yourself above others just open your Bible to John 13 and look at Jesus. Here He is the God of all glory humbling Himself by washing the feet of sinners.

I remember a few years ago reading about a college reunion where there was a prestigious group of the graduates that were called the white jackets. And every time there was a reunion they showed up wearing their white jackets. Some of them were professors and a few were presidents of companies. They were considered by all to be the upper crust of the graduates. The white jackets they wore were the same ones they had when they were back in college and there were what they wore while they served food to the other students. And now they were in a sense rewarded for their humility.