The dusty and dirty conditions of the region and the wearing of sandals necessitated foot-washing. Although the disciples most likely would have been happy to wash Jesus' feet, they could not conceive of washing each other's feet. This was because in the society of the time, foot-washing was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. Peers did not wash one another's feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love. Luke points out (22:24) that the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them, an attitude that precludes a willingness to stoop to wash feet. When Jesus moved to wash their feet, they were shocked. His actions serve also as symbolic of spiritual cleansing (vs. 6-9) and a model of Christian humility (vs. 12-17). Through this action Jesus taught the lesson of selfless service that was supremely exemplified by His death on the cross.
This was a last act by Jesus to instill into His disciples the meaning of humility before he was to be sacrificed on the cross for our sins. The last opportunity to try and teach the importance of humility and what being a neighbor really meant.
Pastor Baldwin only has a couple of more Sundays before he too, answers the call of obedience and leaves his sheep to answer another calling. Today he tried to instill in us the importance of humility in Sunday School by us washing the feet of others and and allowing others to wash ours.
It was the most humbling thing I believe I have ever done. Not so much as the washer but the washee. We were able to see and experience both sides of the coin. A time of prayer and soul searching as the irony of the exercise began to seep into our hearts.
Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and taught them through example right before He left then to be with His Father in heaven. Our shepherd helped us to understand the significance of washing feet before he leaves to answer God's call on his life.
There are no words to describe the irony of it all. Another chapter is closing, another page is turned, but it is not the end. We take with us the knowledge and wisdom of our previous experiences to begin a new chapter in our Christian Walk with Jesus as we mature into seasoned followers always setting the example Christ left 2000 years ago.
