Lessons we learn from dirty feet

At the moment I am spending time with Jesus in the gospel of John. And He keeps on surprising me. Even in stories which I thought I knew through and through. Like the story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet.

Somehow I had always failed to notice this one particular verse which introduces the story, John 13:3: “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God”.  But now this verse really struck me. Because what one would expect after such a statement is either a demand of Jesus to be worshiped or a clear demonstration of his unlimited power. How different is Jesus' response....

Instead of being worshipped or displaying his omnipotence he goes on his knees to serve!!! “so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (v. 4-5). For us westerners in the 21^st century it is hard to grasp how humiliating washing somebody else’s feet was in 1^st century Palestine. Only the lowest of slaves were doing this. Because it was considered to be the dirtiest of jobs. Imagine the feet of people were wearing open sandals in dusty streets with open drains…

What would Crossroads look like if we would really obey this call to serve each other sacrificially? How would our world look like if every Jesus-follower would start to really act like their Master? I look forward having a summer break to dream about this. And to start following Jesus' example more intentionally myself. More than enough dirty feet waiting to be washed! ;-)