Washing feet

One by one the apostles walked through the doorway into the upper room that had been prepared for the Passover. As each guest passed through the opening, they noticed  a pitcher full of water, a bowl to pour it into as well as a towel to wipe the dirt from their feet but where  was the servant? 

The first one to arrive at the empty doorway was Peter. He was puzzled why the owner had neglected to station someone there to wash their feet and began to yell for some help but nobody answered his call. Frustrated he flipped his sandals from his feet; they hit the wall with a loud thud knocking mud off onto the newly swept floor.  John was following close behind and carrying the lamb which was to be prepared for the celebration supper. Peter turned towards John, thinking for a minute that he should take the towel and wash John’s feet. However the thought quickly evaporated.  For weeks now Peter, John, James and the other nine disciples had been arguing about who was considered to be the greatest one among them. 

As John crossed the threshold he noticed how dirty his feet were and before stepping any further called out in a loud voice for the house servant but there was no answer. With a lamb in his arms he couldn’t really bend down to wash his own feet, so for a moment he glanced over at Peter who was busy preparing the herbs in a bowl on a low lying table located in the back. John bit his lip and started to say “Pe_t_er” but the syllables just spilled out as unrecognizable sounds in his throat.

Next, James thoughtlessly burst right into the upper room completely forgetting that his sandals were caked with mud mixed with donkey manure. He was in such a hurry that he had carelessly step in a fresh pile down near the entrance where a foal was tied up. Peter turning towards the door saw the mess on the floor and quickly scolded James then went back to work secretly thinking about how much of a hypocrite he was. James quickly put the flask of wine down onto the table along with a small pouch of sea salt. He frantically tried to clean his own feet but ended up adding to the mess that was already on the floor.

Soon the rest of the apostles would be coming up the steps that led to the upper room. “Clunk, clunk, clunk” pounded the sandals on stair treads as Andrew, Philip and Bartholomew came to an abrupt stop and waited for someone to wash their feet.  They looked around for anyone but there wasn’t a soul around to help. Peter, John and James were all busy preparing a part of the feast and as elders in their group they were above such menial tasks.

Soon the other James appeared followed by Matthew, Thomas, Thaddeus, Simon and Judas who all entered one by one. Quickly and silently they sat down reclining at the table carefully hiding their unwashed feet under the table. These men had been arguing since they had left Galilee about who was the greatest among them so that nobody was about to volunteer to wash the other’s feet. Nobody wanted to stoop to do the lowest job in the house. It was at that point that Jesus entered the room.

"With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”

Oh, how we all need to be washed by the Master. God loved us so much that He willingly left heaven and became a man to die in our place. There is no greater love than that where a man willingly lays down his life for a friend. Jesus Christ allowed His own creation to falsely accuse Him, mock and beat Him and executed on a cross. 

What an incredible scene it must have been that night in the upper room as Jesus gently washed the dirt off of all their feet. At that moment It might have been only the dirt acquired that day but as soon as Jesus died He washed away all of our sins. So who is this King of Glory? His name is Jesus!