It was the night of Passover, and Jesus walked over to Peter to start washing his feet.    But Peter didn’t understand why Jesus was touching this uncomfortable part of the body.  Sandaled feet really took a beating in those days.  No modern clippers, pumice stones, or fancy cream in those day!  It was such a dirty job, that a lot of people had their servants do it for them.

The Son of God touching dirty feet, and the Son of God – a king – becoming a servant.    When Jesus was done, he said, “Do you know what I have done to you?” 

See how He asks that?  Not for you, but To you.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 

Jesus wanted his disciples to be servants to each other and to others.  There wasn’t anyone at that table who was incapable of picking up one dirty foot after another and washing it off!  And we are to do the same – serving by helping our neighbors, calling on those who we haven’t seen in awhile, picking up the phone to tell someone you were thinking of them, feeding the homeless - the ways of servanthood are endless.

“A servant is not greater than his Master,” Jesus told them. 

In other words, get busy.  Wash.

Andrew Hoover, Pastor, East Columbus Christian Church