Read John 13:5-9. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Reflections on the Word.
Do you feel bad or perhaps feel a little guilty that you didn’t help at all? You see your wife coming home after working like yourself, but despite her weariness, she in the kitchen cooking dinner for you and your children. What are you doing? Just watching the news or playing games on your iPhone.
I know that many times that I feel “guilty” for not helping more. I could at least set the table and or help wash the dishes, but I am too busy on my laptop typing away or reading something.
Peter saw Jesus washing one foot after another of his fellow disciples. The Scriptures do not record how the other disciples felt when Jesus washed their feet. Maybe, the experience was overwhelming them where they could not speak or act. But when it was Peter’s turn, he spoke and said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Peter probably felt “guilty” that Jesus was going to wash his feet. He knew in his heart that he should be washing the feet of Jesus, but he didn’t volunteer to take the role of servant and neither did any of the other disciples.
Jesus, yet again, showed His love for them. He humbled Himself to wash each of their feet. They were too proud to humble themselves to wash Jesus’ feet, the feet of their friends or even their own feet. Each of them probably knew that if he were to wash Jesus’ feet that he would probably have to wash everyone’s feet. No one wanted to be servant of all. They all felt “guilty” but none of them did anything. They just sat and watched Jesus washed one foot after another.
It’s easy for us to feel “guilty” for the moment of not serving or helping. We have a laundry list of excuses: someone else will come along to help, I’m already too busy, I didn’t sign up for this, it’s not my responsibility… If we have a guilty conscience or perhaps even a seared conscience that prevents us from serving, maybe it’s our pride that is keeping us from serving others and ultimately the Lord Himself.
Jesus didn’t walk away from serving others. Is it easy for us to walk away from serving others? If Jesus open’s our eyes to an opportunity to serve, don’t be the last one to sign up. Let’ be the first to step up, if all possible.
-Kingston