The Full Extent of His Love (Part 2)
Who considers that when Jesus washed feet, He washed twelve pairs…not eleven?
The cobblestone city streets were likely to be strewn with animal droppings and covered with dusty dirt or clingy mud. Even in sandals, feet sweat. Especially in sandals, they were the most likely limb to be injured and infected. Foot washing was necessary personal care.
Reclining at table meant that the feet of the other diners were near one’s legs and not far downwind of another’s nose, thus the well-appointed house had a servant whose status (or lack thereof) required him or her to bathe the tired tootsies of guests and family members with water before a meal. It was an indisputable mark of welcome.
Jesus met with the Twelve in a borrowed (perhaps rented) room. He had no servants, no house to welcome them to, so He became the servant-who-drew-the-short-straw and welcomed them into His “house.” He demonstrated NO favoritism as He performed this lowly act of service, literally at their feet. The Twelve were aware of the “inner circle” of trust and experience that consisted of Peter, James and John, but no ranking was indicated by Jesus’ service. All were generously bathed and tenderly dried as the Master made His way around the room. No different type of treatment set any of them apart from the others. (The only recorded conversation was with Peter, but we’ve already discussed that). No exception was made for Judas Iscariot, whom Jesus knew, had already made arrangements to betray Him to the “religious authorities.” So thoroughly did He serve each one of them that no one else knew that Judas had any other destination.
Jesus did not remind any of them of their foibles and flaws, their original misconceptions about Him, their lapses of faith, their pre-Jesus-follower lives. He just knelt down with a wash pan and a towel and served them by doing for them what they needed to have done, not chiding them for needing it. Behold, one more measure of the full extent of His love: this love serves and cares for and humbly attends even traitors.
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you;” that is: humbly serve each other regardless of who the person is, what they have done and what they are destined to do. My family are the people I know best…and my love for them falls so short of His…Jesus, give me what I need to love my family like You love yours!
Fumbling but still following Jesus every day in the everyday.
Christi
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