Had Your Feet Washed Lately?

Scott Williams and Erin Wilson continue to blow me away with their heartfelt posts on trying to understand what it means to have God and our brothers and sisters love and treasure us unconditionally when we are so unworthy. It is so beyond our comprehension that it is hard for us to believe God loves us and completes us. His word says it, but do we live it out with abandon in our lives? It is so much easier for me show or display love to others than to be on the receiving end. So, but how do I respond when others express their love for me? One of the things I struggle with is finding an appropriate response when people want to pay me a compliment or show their love in an outward way. Something we studied the other day helped me put it in perspective.

We were studying John Chapter 13 two weeks ago during our Wednesday Night Bible Study at The Gate when we read about the Lord's Supper (13:1-4) and Jesus Washing the Disciple's Feet (13:5-20). I asked if any of our brothers and sisters had been in a foot washing ceremony before. Most of them said they had. So I asked them, "Did you feel more comfortable having your feet washed or washing someone else's feet?" It was unanimous, every one there said they felt more comfortable washing someone else's feet. Why is that? I think it has something to do with what Scott and Erin are exploring in their blogs.

We read in the Bible that God treasures us and has sent His Son to restore us to Him, that we are his bride, but it is so hard to believe. We know and believe that God loves our brothers and sisters and delights in them, and believe that we find worth in the Body of Christ, but have such a hard time understanding God's love for us individually.

Just before the Lords Supper, in John Chapter 12 we see Mary anointing Jesus. She was pouring perfume on the feet of Jesus and wiping it off with her hair. Judas was upset with Mary and told her that the perfume should have been sold and the year's wages that it cost be used to feed the poor. Jesus then rebukes Judas. Christ's example of foot washing is all about servanthood. And, we rightly use this as the Lord's example to us when we serve and love others. But, what about letting others serve us? We should be using Christ's example of letting Mary anoint Him as an example to show us that it is also ok for people to serve us, lavish love on us, and even more importantly, for us to not be ashamed to admit that God loves us unconditionally. Christ believed it and acted upon it. Of course, He was perfect and was more intimate with the Father than we will ever know.

As hard as it is for us to have our feet washed or anointed by others we should follow Christ's example and accept it and act upon it. It validates the calling of Christ in the lives of others and shows us that we are valuable in His sight. We may not ever get accustomed to it, but we can learn lessons from it. I will never feel comfortable in having some else wash my feet, or lavishing love on me, but it makes the Body of Christ stronger, more unified, and more Christlike, so I'll take one for the team!