There are a few instances in Scripture that no matter how many times I return to them, I find them encouraging, illuminating of my own sins, comforting, instructive and exhorting. Jesus washing the disciples feet as recorded in John 13 is one of those instances.

Peter’s indignation or horror at the thought of Jesus washing his feet turns on a dime into excessiveness. I love that about Peter because I too often live in extremes. The humanity in the passage and Jesus’ patience with Peter are encouraging.

Peter knew that what Jesus was doing was humiliating. It was the place of a non-Jewish slave to wash the dirt off of feet that had walked through unpaved dirty streets in minimalist sandals. Peter loved and respected Jesus so much he simply didn’t want this respectable man to stoop to such lows. This humbles me, because so often I want God to do things for me. I want him to fix things. I want him to bless me. I want, I want, I want. Yet Peter respected Jesus so much, he would not conceive of the idea that Jesus would do the bidding of a demanding Peter. The passage illuminates my own sins.

Like Peter, So often I don’t understand what is really happening in Scripture. I’ve had to wrestle with saying and passages and events, many I still don’t quite understand, so I take comfort in the fact that Jesus knew when his disciples were getting it wrong. I’m grateful for his continued patience and grace.

Peter’s enthusiasm took him from “refusal to participate” all the way to “beyond what is necessary by a long shot”. Once he understood that Jesus was doing something necessary, something important, something that enabled Peter to belong to Jesus, he wanted all in. No longer would he shy away from participating, but instead made himself fully available. Jesus didn’t chide him for his enthusiasm. Instead Jesus reassured Peter that he was clean, that he does belong and that an entire bath was not necessary. (I’m glad that Jesus didn’t give the disciples a full on sponge bath, that could make for some awkward church services.)

I believe Jesus was saying two things in this passage. First, we need to belong to Jesus – to be saved. And second, we need to continually allow God to cleans us from sin. Entire books have been written about the topic of “assurance of salvation” precisely because there are varying opinions about how much assurance one can really have. For the moment, I will point to two verses that anchor these concepts in my own mind (as cluttered and unreliable as it is). Romans 11:29 promises that “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable”, and Philippians 2:12 instructs to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. I believe there is a moment of salvation, a transaction that brings us from death to new life. And I also believe that as long as we are in the flesh we will continue to sin (see 1 John 1:5-10).

In John 13 we have this image of Jesus taking the place of a servant, providing the cleansing our souls so desperately and continuously need. It reminds me of baptism and foreshadows what happened on the cross. The passage reminds me that I belong to Jesus, and that I need him everyday, not just as an insurance policy for THAT day of judgement. And it reminds me that I am to serve others.

It’s the word picture of dusty feet needing daily grace that inspired this blog’s title.