Monday, July 16, 2012

Seeing Jesus. Wash my feet.


John 13:5-105 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “ If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”  (NASB)
You, my Lord, have come to me in form of a slave. You have announced your intention to wash my feet, dirty from walking through the city.  I do not understand why You would want to do that. That is the job of the lowest ranking slave of the house. I am willing to wash my own feet, or to go dirty instead. Why? 
And You show me.  Every where I go, I pick up dirt. Often not sin. Just dirt. The lyrics or melody of a song. Our culture’s attitude towards the elderly, towards sex, towards some group of people. Some anger at an unsafe driver or reckless bicyclist whom I need to forgive. I picked up an attitude. I answered a question unkindly. I entertained a memory that still hurts. Not sin. Just dirt.
And You want to wash my feet in Your pure water.  I have been washed clean, and need only the reminder of Your amazing grace to me.
Thank You.