Valerie Rae Hanneman
John 13:8 (The Message) Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet--ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."
Recently we had a “Ministry Faire” at the church to highlight all the various ministries of the church and to promote involvement by our congregation in those ministries. I had originally planned on being at another church that morning but got called to sub in on the TV camera. Because I had not planned to be there I was not working a table for Kids Klub so I had the opportunity to just wander the faire. I waved at my friend, Ilene Luna, and she waved for me to come over to her. Now Ilene is not only the sister of my heart and my friend, Ilene is my “magician-beautician” So when she waved me over I paid attention. (Any woman will tell you that there are three people you don’t mess with. You don’t mess with your receptionist, your mechanic, or your hairdresser. Tick off your receptionist and she will start “accidentally” dropping all your important calls. Tick off your mechanic and you will be paying for repairs on engine parts you never heard of - like a “v” joint or getting your brakes greased. Tick off your hairdresser and your bad hair days may go on for months! So I got myself over to Ilene.) Along with working a booth, Ilene was washing feet and she wanted to wash my feet. I was dumbfounded at her request. That anybody would want to do that to me is surprising enough - but Ilene? If anybody should be washing anybody’s feet - I should be washing Ilene’s. And not because she does my hair, but because you don’t find too many hearts that are as Christ-focused as Ilene’s. When I got over my surprise, I refused. She persisted and I started giving excuses. (They were woman-to-woman excuses so for the peace of mind of the gentlemen who read this, I will not share them.) Ilene explained why it was important to her to wash my feet, and so I finally agreed to her request.
When we see the picture “The Last Supper” we see Jesus and His disciples seated around a table but they actually reclined around their meal tables. Because they walked dusty roads in sandals, eating with your feet at face level to your neighbor could cause a problem. They took care of that by having a slave whose job was to wash the feet of the diners. On the totem pole of slaves, the foot-washer was at the very bottom. When the disciples started to arrive at the upper room that last time they saw that the bowl was there, the pitcher was there, the towel was there. The foot-washer was not. After a moment of consternation, they hurry past the bowl, anxious to get the spot closest to Jesus. After a few minutes Jesus gets up and starts to wash His disciples feet as if He - the Glory of Heaven - were the lowest of the lowest. We only have Peter’s reaction to this situation - but don’t you wonder how the rest of them reacted? And how about Judas? As Jesus washed his feet - did their eyes meet? How did Judas feel with his betrayal-guilt naked in his eyes to look into Jesus’ eyes and see His love for Judas naked in His eyes? But Peter - we know Peter’s response. He watched in shock as Jesus got closer and closer - the water getting grayer and grayer. Then Jesus kneels before him, and Peter reacts as he often did - explosively. He didn’t understand what Jesus was teaching, and he wasn’t willing to take Jesus’ place - but he knew that in the scheme of things the Messiah did not go washing a fisherman’s feet. He was unwilling to allow Jesus to serve him because he knew that he should be serving Jesus. I believe that as unwilling as Peter was to have Jesus wash his feet, he would have been more than willing to wash Jesus’ feet. He was willing to serve - but not to be served.
Before renewing my life in Christ I was like most of the world. Proud and stiff-necked - I was out for me first. The thought of serving another with no gain to myself was as alien as an afternoon stroll on the sun. Even when I acted like I was serving another - on the inside I was always looking for the angle. When I came back to Christ it took awhile for me to find the joy of serving another. I responded to Jesus’ call to the Care Fresno Kids ministry not because I wanted to serve but because obeying His call was better than being swallowed by some fish. Over the years I have made a 180 degree change in that attitude. I love to serve. I serve Jesus first, then my family and my community of faith. People tell me that they don’t understand how I do all that I do at the church. They don’t know that what I am given the privilege of doing in Jesus’ name isn’t tiring - it is exhilarating! Life holds no greater joy than to serve in Jesus’ name.
But when it comes to being served - that is a different story. I - who am so willing to serve - have difficulty in being served. It is difficult for me to accept help when it is offered - and there is no way that I will ask for it. I was totally willing to wash Ilene’s feet - but not to have my feet washed. I was willing to wash her feet because Ilene is worthy of my serving her. I could go on and on and on about how worthy she is of my service.
Peter was willing to serve Jesus. Before the night was over he would declare his willingness to die for Him. But he was not willing to let Jesus serve him. He did not feel that he was worthy to be served by Jesus. I was willing to serve Ilene, but not for her to serve me. Was that because I did not feel that I was worthy to be served by her? I think that maybe that’s it.
Jesus told Peter that if he did not allow Jesus to wash his feet then he couldn’t be part of what He was doing. Jesus designed the Church to serve others and to be served. We, the Church, are the hands and feet of Jesus. As His hands and feet we are to serve Him by serving others. Conversely, He serves us though the service of others. It is though our service to each other that we most reflect His love.
I am willing to wash Ilene’s feet because I love her and honor her and because I love, honor and serve Jesus when I serve her. But when I was unwilling to have her wash my feet because I felt unworthy of her doing so - then not only did I deny her the chance to love and honor me and to love and honor Jesus through serving me but I also denied Jesus the chance to love and honor me through Ilene’s service. And in my refusal I chose to not be part of what He was doing. I was the only one who felt I was unworthy. Ilene felt I was worthy - and so did Jesus.
The foot washing was a unique experience - but the life changing experience was having Ilene look up at me with her love for Jesus - and for me - naked in her eyes. Ilene taught me that serving Jesus and others are the greatest joy - and so is being served by others and Jesus.
Jesus, LORD and Savior, I am only worthy to serve You and to be served because You make me worthy. Help me to accept being served as willingly as I serve.
Posted by Valerie at March 3, 2006 08:34 PM