The Eternal God

We tend to think of the story of Jesus washing the feet of His apostles as something that happened one time 2000 years ago.  We tend to think of His action as symbolic, something that didn't really need to be done, but as more of a ritual, a ceremonial act---a demonstration to show His followers what they needed to do in the future, like the demonstrations of CPR, to show us what we need to do in an emergency.

Before I come into the house after working in the yard, even though I wash my own feet with the hose outside, I still have dirt clinging to me, dirt that really needs to be washed off--with soap and scrubbing.  And until that happens, I continue to feel unclean and unready to do anything else.  Jesus' Apostles really needed to have their feet washed before reclining at the table. 

The Passover was not just grabbing a bite over the sink to satisfy their hunger.  The Passover was a sacred reminder of the meal that purchased their forever freedom from slavery and oppression, the meal that made them a people preserved from death by the blood of the sacrificial lamb, the meal that strengthened them for the journey into the desert---together, one helping another.  It was a meal to be eaten together, in remembrance of God's eternal actions on their behalf, of His eternal preservation of the people of Israel, of His eternal "hovering" over them to watch their ways and journeys.  Who could participate in such an event with dirty feet, as if it did not matter?

Not only did Jesus wash their feet out of love and humble service to them, but He was also doing what He saw the Father doing every day of our lives---cleansing us from the stains of our journey, from the wounds of the past, from the dirt that clings to our very souls.  Not only did Jesus wash the feet of His disciples 2000 years ago, but TODAY, right now, He is bending over OUR feet with His basin and towel.  He is the eternal, everlasting God, sent by the Father to minister to us every moment of our lives.  He is here not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom.  He is here right now to wash our feet, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Which one of us does not bear an almost unbearable burden of guilt?  Who can grow old without looking back on what we failed to do, or on what we have done?  We continue to walk through life with the stains of living, even though we have already washed off what we could wash.  There is One who is able to completely cleanse our souls, to purify us, to make us whole.  Yes, we have damaged others and continue to do so, even though we intend not to.  But the sacrificial lamb of God took those blows unto His own body, absorbing the pain Himself.  And turning around, He prayed for our forgiveness from the Father for hurting Him.

He is still washing our feet today, still cleansing us from the almost indelible stains on our souls, still healing those we have hurt so badly on our journey.  We hang our heads in shame, but He says, "Come on; we have yet more to do, and I have equipped you to do it.  You shall no longer be instruments of destruction but of hope and renewal.  I am with you always, and will never leave or abandon you.  I will watch your coming and your going and lead in sure paths for the sake of my Name.  I have chosen you that you [now] should bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.  Believe.  Trust.  Hope.  I/ you will not fail again.  But if you do not allow me to wash your feet, you will have no part in Me."

We cannot wash our own "feet;"  we cannot prepare ourselves for the future; we can only allow the Eternal and Everlasting God to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.