Dusty Feet

(John 13:3-11)

Peter is just so "Peter". He is often bold, bossy, boisterous, and even belligerant. Yet, his loud, bold questioning of Jesus blows open the windows of our minds (and his,too!) to the deeper meaning of the words and actions of Jesus.

On this particular night, after eating a meal with his closest friends and followers, Jesus removed His outer garment, wrapped a towel about his waist, and then filled a basin with water. Without explanation, he approached each disciple one at a time, and knelt before them, and washed their tired and dusty feet.

I can almost hear the outrage in Peter's voice, as Jesus approached him with the basin of water. The room was silent except for the gentle swish of the water, and the water dripping from the towel into the pottery basin. Suddenly Peter speaks, breaking the silence, "You will NEVER wash my feet!"

His startling words seemed to revergerate throughout the once still room. The other disciples may have wondered to themselves how Peter could question the Master in this manner. Although the others accepted the servant action of Jesus toward them without comment or question, Peter would not. He refused to allow Jesus, His Master, to humble Himself before him! "Wash my feet, You will not!"

Such a strong statement required an equally powerful response, one that would get the attention of Peter away from himself, and one that would compel Peter to look at the relationship he had with his Master, Jesus Christ. And so Jesus answered His friend's bold proclamation with His own dramatic statement. "If I do not wash you, you have no part with me."

This statement by Jesus must have caught Peter off guard. The last thing that Peter desired was to lose his friendship with his dear friend, Jesus. Peter was so strong in his love for Jesus, that later that same evening, Peter would declare that he would be willing to even die for Him. So, Peter had no choice but to submit to Jesus' desire to wash his feet. However, once again Peter went to an extreme in his submission. "Don't just wash my feet; wash my hands and head, too!"

Jesus was so right when moments earlier He had told Peter that "what I am doing, you do not understand now." Jesus had to help him understand that he was not in need of a bath as Peter suggested now, because Peter was already clean. According to the custom of the day, once a person had bathed, he was clean and only needed to wash off the daily dust from his feet.

Jesus wanted Peter to understand that just as he was already clean and only needed to wash his feet, he was also spiritually clean and only needed a cleansing from the daily dust of sin collected from his walk in the world. Only the Master, Jesus, could wash that kind of dust away. With those words spoken, the room was once again silent, this time filled with a quiet understand, as the Master gently washed Peter's feet. Jesus also knew in His heart that His precious ones would have great difficulty accepting the gift of His ultimate act of humility and shame that awaited Him on a cruel cross, unless they could receive this small act of humility now.

In the hours and days ahead, this was a lesson that Peter would need to know, as he faced some of his darkest moments of failure in living for and following his Master. He would desperately need the tender care of his Master. He would need His loving touch of forgiveness and cleansing. The daily dust and dirt of doubt, disappointment and denial would need to be washed from his feet.

Once we have come into Christ, we have become a new creature, we have been cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus, and we no longer need another spiritual bath. Like Peter, what we also need is that daily cleansing of our dusty feet, so that we can continue to walk in close fellowship with Him. Only Jesus could do that for Peter. Only Jesus can do that for any of us.

Will you allow Him to wash your dusty feet?