All washed up? #2

When the world says we are “all washed up” it means we’ve run our course, we have nothing more to offer. When Jesus says we are “all washed up” he means that the adventure is just beginning!

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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. John 13:3-5

Go on, read that passage again; slowly.

This is a dangerous lesson for us to learn from.
Have you read it again yet?
Well, lets do it again, this time changing the location and time. It is Sunday morning and you are in church. You are loving the worship and the presence of God because you are confident in your faith; you know God has rescued you; you know God will never leave you; you know that you are completely clean [eternally]; you know God guides you.
You also know that you put all of this knowledge into action; you may be part of the cleaning team, hovering the church each week, everyone knows that you are active and helpful in the church, or you may join in with the prayer meetings, you may have led a study or two in your house group, or preached on a Sunday or even given a prophetic word. Your knowledge of Christ is regularly poured out into vessels of your actions.
But then trouble comes; Jesus changes the rules, the rules we have subtly imposed. He whispers to you, YOU: “Get up. Look, no one has shown care to my pastor. I want him to know I care. Get up and go into the kitchen, and fill a bowl with water (it’s pleasantly warm from the tap in there). Take a towel and the anointing oil and go up to him. Kneel before him, take his shoes off, rinse his feet, dry them and anoint his feet. Do it for him and me. Please.”

Our response is easy: I can’t, that’s not expected of me. We are in the middle of worship. Pastor Andrew is about to preach in a minute the last thing he probably wants is me coming up to him with a bowl of water interrupting the flow of the meeting. Besides the bowl is used for dishes. I can’t touch the anointing oil.
All this rushes through our mind and we pray earnestly for Pastor Andrew but all we hear is the echo of His words: “Go…”

We are often [self] confined by expectations and conventions rather than released through obedience and service. Service is good in decent measures and at the right time. Reading the story again it is clear that Jesus got it totally wrong here. Washing of feet was done by servants, not by the head guest or even the host. That would be very inappropriate. Besides he also did it at the wrong time in the evening. The right time was when people came in, perhaps it would have been acceptable then, but instead Jesus chose to do after the meal when everyone expected a healthy and lively discussion led by their honoured guest (it was the Jewish way, it was why you met together for a meal; food is good but discussion better). But instead of allowing his words to be heard and revered, he bent down and began doing the lowest job. Jesus was doing the wrong job at the wrong time to the wrong people!
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17

Here are the prayer points for this week:
1. Rejoice because we are cleansed and redeemed, washed clean through the blood of Jesus.
2. Remember that Jesus washed his disciples feet and that we are also called to service. Pray that that you will remain humble in your service for your family, your church and your community.
3. Just as light shines brighter in darkness, pray that those in need of Christ we notice what He has done in your life; how he has cleaned your act up.