Walking In The Dust of the Rabbi We Are Bound to Get Our Feet Dirty

Working in my garden this weekend was necessary as things had gotten out of hand due to school starting and a variety of other commitments.

As I finished my work for the day I took off my garden shoes to prop my feet and found that they were covered with dirt from the job.

It reminds me that following Jesus and doing His work we are bound to get our feet dirty.

As Jesus walked through the landscape of his life he traversed much land accumulating dust and dirt on his feet as he went with his disciples.

As they prepared to eat the last supper, Jesus, realizing there was no servant to wash the feet of the travelers, humbly took on the menial task of washing each of the disciples feet.

Although Jesus knew he was God he took the form of a slave and washed their feet as in their travels they had accumulated much dirt.

Washing the disciples feet was both a practical and spiritual application of the gospel.  Practically speaking, eating a meal together would entail the disciples extending their legs out and leaning to one side in which case they would  be in close proximity to the feet of the person to their right.

Jesus knew that their feet must be clean in order for them to have good fellowship and communion with one another.

Following Jesus not only requires that we get dirty as we serve and follow hard after Him, as he guides us through the landscape of our lives in Him, but it also requires that we be tended to by him so that the things that we accumulate do not stick and hinder our fellowship and communion with the body of Christ.

In order to have true intimacy with people, 

we must have true intimacy with Jesus.

Working with and serving one another exposes us to opportunities of hurt, rejection and frustration that can lead to offense and ultimately bitterness and unforgiveness.

The Lord realizes that we are weak and prone to accumulate filth in our hearts as we seek to do His will.  He knows too well the propensity of the human heart but he has shown us the way to keep our hands pure and our hearts clean.  

Now before the Feast of the Passover, 

when Jesus knew that is hour had come 

to depart out of this world to the Father, 

having loved his own who were in the world, 

he loved them to the end.  

During supper, when the devil had already put it into 

the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, 

to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father 

had given all things into his hands, 

and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 

rose from supper.  He laid aside his outer garments, 

and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.  

Then he poured water into a basin 

and began to wash the disciples' feet 

and to wipe them with the towel...

Recognize that in John 13 Jesus acted as a servant because he realized many truths about who he was and what his Father intended for his life.  This knowledge fueled a response of humility and service.

We too must love the ones that God has placed in front of us and love them to the end.  We are called to love and serve one another.  The means by which we can do this clearly starts by our knowledge of who God is and how he was the ultimate servant for each and everyone of us.

Romans 5:8

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ 

to die for us while we were still sinners.

Like Jesus we are called to love even when we know that people have and will betray us.

We like Jesus have been given authority, not to prevent us from laying down our lives but just the opposite.  Upon meditating on these truths, Jesus then acted by laying aside his will and stripping himself of his earthly garments.

We try to maintain all the trappings of our identity when God desires that we lay down our garments for his service.  His garment requires that we die to self and serve others well.

Serving others in ways that are offensive to our ego is the best way to humble ourselves.  When we serve readily in the areas that we feel equipped or called to, often times those are the areas where we maintain control and act as if we are making a great sacrifice but so often God is calling us to the very things that we wish to avoid.

Jesus was not a willful servant but he gave up his will, knowing he was God he did the most offensive service by washing his disciples feet.  And he did this for our sakes too.

He asks his disciples;

"Do you understand what I have done to you?  

You call me Teacher and Lord, 

and you are right, for so I am.  

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, 

you also ought to wash one another's feet.  

For I have given you an example, 

that you also should do just as I have done to you.  

Truly, Truly, I say to you, 

a servant is not greater than his master, 

nor is a messenger greater that the one who sent him.  

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. "

Do we REALLY understand what Jesus was saying here?  He is saying, I know I am God yet I did the most menial the most degrading job in order to serve you.

Are we too willing to lay aside our identities that we wear 

in order to take on the identity of a servant? 

Father,
We need you to help us to lay down our egos by choosing not to Edge God Out by serving ourselves before we serve others but Lord help us to Exalt God Only by loving well those that are around us and serving them knowing full well that you have made us kings and priests and that you have given us dominion over all things not for our glory but for yours.

Help us to recognize the opportunities that you are giving us to lay aside our garments to serve others.    We know that as we walk with the Rabbi we will accumulate dirt but help us to come to Jesus and allow him to serve us well in order that we may see more clearly your great love for us and as we become more and more aware give us the grace to lay our lives down in greater ways for our good and your glory.