MIDWEEK MEDITATION

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. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John 13:12-17

On His knees, stripped down and wrapped in a dirty wet towel, He came to the feet of Judas. Soon those feet would be going out into the night and bringing back an incredible amount of pain and sorrow. It was God’s will, and Jesus would follow it to the end. 

One by one, He washed their feet. To see their teacher, their leader, and their master bowing before them in humble service was unthinkable. They could only comprehend it in bits and pieces. The God who formed man from the dust of the ground was now wiping it from their feet. Why? He was modeling humility. 

If serving wasn’t beneath Christ, what could possibly be beneath His disciples?

Many want the grace that Jesus has to offer them. Some want to serve when it is convenient and personally fulfilling. Few want to follow the example of Jesus, taking a posture of humility and serving people when it is messy. Jesus didn’t do this because His disciples deserved it. Judas certainly didn’t. He did it because He loved them. Those who follow Jesus and want to live a blessed life are those who become servants to those around them. You cannot bring redemption to this world if you refuse to touch the people and places that need redemption. 

What is beneath you? Maybe the better question is, what was beneath Jesus?
 
Father, give me a heart of humility. Help me to see those in need and grant me the wisdom to know how to serve as Jesus did. Remind me that the grace You give in my life is also grace that should be given through my life.