Feet Washing

John 13:1-15 (TNIV)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet" Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

At Chapel today, we washed each other's feet. I must admit that I felt some apprehension before the whole process began as I had been asked to be one of the "lead feet washers" by Richard, who was preaching today. I had never washed or had my feet washed prior to this. I guess you could say it was a strange ritual that I never understood, or rather, never really thought about.

When it was my turn, I sat down and dipped my feet into the bowl of warm water. Looking down at my two feet... "Hmm," I thought, " I should have removed that nail polish from last October (oops). I should have trimmed my toe nails (double oops)!" After having my feet washed, I did the same to the next person in line. The whole thing was done in under a minute and I made my way back to my seat. And, while others lined up for feet washing, we sang...

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends,
silently washes their feet,
master who acts as a slave to them.

Neighbors are rich and poor,
varied in color and race,
neighbors are near and far away.

These are the ones we should serve,
these are the ones we should love;
all these are neighbors to us and you.

Loving puts us on our knees,
serving as though we are slaves;
this is the way we should live with you.

Kneel at the feet of our friends,
silently washing their feet;
this is the way we should live with you.

I had listened to Richard's sermon about why Jesus washed the disciples feet. Mind you it was a great sermon. But when I sang the line - Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet, master who acts as a slave to them - I suddenly, quite surprisingly, started to tear up. The image of Jesus quietly, carefully, and gently washing the dirty, grimy feet of his friends conjured up in my mind. Indeed, Jesus never asked for any glory or recognition, but he came as a lowly servant to serve the world that he loves! I felt so touched by his love and humility, and was reminded again of how we are here on earth to serve each other, instead of ourselves. How should we serve? With absolute humbleness and selflessness, like Jesus did, like Jesus still does. Seeing all the professors kneeling on the ground and washing others' feet, I can't help but think of some authoritative figures in my own life and imagining what it would be like if they too practiced this act. I think for many, it would bring much light to the way they view Jesus. I know it did for me.