“And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet…” (John 13:2-5).
I have recently encountered, once again, the amazing example of Jesus. At the height of Holy Week — the week that comprises the pivotal events of all time — Jesus paused, tied a towel about his waist, stooped to the ground … and washed his disciples’ feet. Amazing.
I was reminded of the event during Maundy Thursday services when we read the account in church. Not long before, you see, I had witnessed a reenactment of the event — at the last meeting of our Home Council. Our governing board undertook to wash one another’s feet. We have sometimes reenacted Jesus’ example in our own Home Office, here in Minneapolis. Maybe you have seen it done in your church.
It is a powerful experience. The foot washer assumes a humble position, as a slave might do. You must go to your knees, lower your eyes, roll up your sleeves — and take a foot in your hands. You must lay aside your dignity, suspend your self-importance, drop your defenses and make yourself suddenly vulnerable. It is a strange position for most of us. We do not make a habit of vulnerable service. We do not “do” vulnerable easily.
But Jesus did. Jesus knew “that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God” (v.2). In other words, Jesus knew himself. He was confident in his own identity. He knew who he was, where he came from, and why. And it was this self-awareness, in my estimation, this assured self-identity, that permitted him to lay everything aside for the sake of his disciples and take their gnarly feet in his hands. He had nothing to prove. “See how his thoughts and his work agree,” Luther commented. “His thoughts are: I am God and Lord over all things … But what is His work? … He washes His disciples’ feet” (WA 52. 218f.).
Many of us, on the other hand, retain very much to prove. We are constantly jockeying for position and competing for power and prestige. Unsure of ourselves, we are always “one-upping” one another for personal benefit or privilege. This is the fuel for our American “rat race.” It is also the reason we find it so difficult to lay everything aside for the sake of the Kingdom. It is difficult to kneel in service when you are comparing yourself with others.
Do you want to follow Jesus’ radical example? Don’t head for washing bowls, immediately. Some believing self-discovery must precede — if you are not to wash feet simply for the show of it. Like Jesus himself, you will want to pause for a moment to remember Whose you are, where you have come from and where you are going. If you believe in this Jesus, you see, you are a child of the King Most High. You have nothing more to prove. You are covered by his grace. You are powered for his service.
This kind of self-identity — it is the believer’s identity, really — makes the adventure of radical service possible. And not only foot-washing. When we know who we are in Christ, we are readied to represent him wherever he leads us in the world. Then we can wrap the towel of service about our waist. Then we can fill the washing bowl, and kneel wherever he leads us. We’ll have nothing to prove. But Jesus will prove himself faithful.
Thank you for your column The Way I See It. The Newsletter of WWPL arrived today. This evening I will be using the article entitled “Kneel Where He Leads” as a devotional for the Stephen Ministry group at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Encinitas. Many times in the past I have used one of your editorials for our time of devotions. Thank you for your profound thoughts which I can share with others.