After supper with his disciples, Jesus got up from the table, poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet.  He came to Peter who asked the question, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” (John 13:6).  Jesus said that Peter will understand all of this later, but Peter responds, “You shall never wash my feet!”

“Christ Washing the Apostles’ Feet” by Peter Paul Rubens, 1632

Jesus then says, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.”  Peter then says, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Why would any of us opt out of the foot washing?

Do we not want to take off our shoes?

Do we think our feet don’t need to be washed?

Do we think we are not worthy of having Jesus wash our feet?  Is it too intimate?  Too close?  Too risky to be vulnerable and fully open to be loved?  Yet, this is our moment to be a part of Jesus….

It’s not about being perfect.  It’s all about letting ourselves be loved.

Pondering…

Read the poem once more.  What speaks to you?

You might try taking your shoes off sometime today and imagine Jesus washing your feet.  What are you thinking?  What are you feeling?

nk