The Last Supper and ensuing discourse that Jesus had with his disciples before the crucifixion began with a foot washing – a necessary thing in a dry dusty country where people wore only sandals. Jesus demonstrated his love for them in part by assuming the role of the servant and washing their feet (which they had neglected to do).
We see the inexhaustible love of God for his people shown all through the Old Testament despite their repeated sins and rebellion. Love and justice are core characteristics of God, and we see this tension all through his dealings with Israel.
“…having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love” John 13:1
The Last Supper and ensuing discourse that Jesus had with his disciples before the crucifixion began with a foot washing – a necessary thing in a dry dusty country where people wore only sandals. Jesus demonstrated his love for them in part by assuming the role of the servant and washing their feet (which they had neglected to do).
We see the inexhaustible love of God for his people shown all through the Old Testament despite their repeated sins and rebellion. Love and justice are core characteristics of God, and we see this tension all through his dealings with Israel.
We see this also through the earthly ministry of Jesus the Son. Knowing what they were like, he still called the twelve to follow him. In fact, during this supper they had been arguing about who was the greatest among them! Don’t laugh – you and I are the same as they!
Jesus’ love for the disciples (and us) was no ‘aw shucks – boys will be boys’ kind of approach. Their sin had to be dealt with and that was why he came. He was the magnificent sinless sacrifice on behalf of the sinful ones who did not deserve it!
“Love… stands in inverse ratio to the greatness and excellence of the object. And so if I am of infinitely, infinitely little importance, if in my wretchedness I feel myself to be the most miserable of all; then it is eternally, eternally certain that God loves me” Soren Kierkegaard.
A rabbi in Jesus’ day would call disciples who he felt could be like him. So he called these twelve – as he has also called you and me. Like the twelve, we follow close to the Master – we note what is important to him, how he lives his life, how he treats other people. We take careful note of his teaching and see how his teaching plays out in everyday life – and then we imitate him by doing it ourselves. We are with other people whom the rabbi has called. They are different than us, but he has called them as much as he has called you and me.
In this setting, Jesus demonstrated love by assuming a servant’s role and washing their feet. He challenged them to behave like him in showing practical love to others and promised blessing for them when they did so.
In light of the steadfast boundless love of God for you, what is one thing you could do to serve another disciple of Jesus this week? A phone call, drive them somewhere they need to go, a needed visit – something like that? Let’s put action to our ‘clean feet!’
“Oh if there’s only one song I can sing when in His beauty I see the great King
This shall my song in eternity be; ‘Oh what a wonder that Jesus loves me’
I am so glad that Jesus loves me – Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me
I am so glad that Jesus loves me – Jesus loves even me.”
Philip Bliss.
Pastor Leon Throness
