Unexpected: Washing Feet
Who would have thought that the most talked about ad from this year’s Super Bowl would be about washing feet?
The backstory
The request of the mother of James & John (Mrs. Zebedee)
Mark 10:43-45 New International Version
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Words clarify, actions demonstrate
John 13:1-17 New Living Translation
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Foot washing was a need, and an extravagance
Feet were filthy, covered with dust and dung from dirt roads
Was a sign of hospitality and honor
Carried out by the lowest level (most inferior) servants
Why did Jesus wash their feet?
To demonstrate greatness
To model the heart of a servant
To express His deep love for them
Jesus washed each of the disciples’ feet, knowing that they would flee
Jesus washed Thomas’ feet, knowing that he would doubt Him
Jesus washed Peter’s feet, knowing that he would deny Him
Jesus washed Judas’ feet, knowing that he would betray him
There is a difference between being humble and being humiliated
Humility overflows from an understanding of your relationship with God; Humiliation is inflicted upon you, causing embarrassment and shame
Why are we so reluctant to serve with humility?
We think certain things are beneath us
We don’t want to do things we don’t like
We want to do what we want to do more than what needs to be done
“Don’t Be” Attitudes (the opposite of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5)
1. That’s not my job
2. I don’t have time
3. I know what is right/important
The example of Walt
Nothing was more unexpected than Jesus taking up the basin and towel
Nothing was more consistent with the character of Jesus than taking up the basin and towel
Philippians 2:1-8 New International Version
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
James 4:6-7 New Living Translation
God gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So humble yourselves before God.
John 13:15 New Living Translation
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. – Jesus
Sermon Based Questions
- What life lessons have you learned about being humble?
- What jobs at home, church, work, or in the community do you think are beneath you? Why do you think so?
- Why is it easier to serve humbly in a single instance (serving food at a homeless shelter once or twice a year, babysitting one night for a friend, etc.) than doing so on an ongoing basis (working weekly in children’s ministry or student ministry, foster care, meals on wheels, etc.)?
- What is one step you personally can take to begin to serve with humility in a new area of your life?