Stinky Feet

Feet

Right now I want you think about feet, think about your feet, your children’s feet, your spouses feet. You may get pedicures regularly and some of us might only touch our feet when when wash them in the shower. Typically people do not equate feet with something they just want to touch or even be close to. In some regard our feet are very similar to our lives. Some of us cover our lives up like we do our feet. Often times in public the nicest shoes can cover up the worst feet problems. Sometimes feet can stink, just like our lives. Our lives have stinky moments. Sometimes feet hurt, when they are in shoes that are too small or brand new and do not have much give, the feet become uncomfortable. Similar to life sometimes we find ourselves in tight situations where it feels like life is closing in on us. Sometimes life is like sandals on the beach on a nice summer day. We are not worried about exposure because the elements are not ones that will cause harm to our feet.

Sometimes our lives resemble feet in the sense of multiple layers. We put socks one, shoes over that and unless someone has x-ray vision they won’t be able to see my feet. A nice pair of shoes can cause one to not even think about what their feet look like underneath those sneakers. Our life is very similar, we do a lot of things to look good externally but underneath there are callouses, bunions, cracks and the unpleasant smells of life.

The great thing about Jesus is he came to show us even as our Lord, he is willing to get down on his knees and clean the worst of situations. It’s not about the current state of the persons life it’s are you willing to surrender and understand what Jesus is doing for you out of love is so you can do the same for someone else. In , Jesus knows his departure is near. He knows death is coming, he knows his time on earth is up. In his limited time He makes one of the greatest statements of service and love that this world has ever seen. Jesus takes the time to wash the feet of a disciple, one thing we must understand as it pertains to service is that we cannot be so overwhelmed by the act of service that we miss the lesson being taught by the servant-leadership.

Applies to the entire Chapter

Understand you cannot truly serve unless you unconditionally love.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”

Understand Jesus put the dependability on love that people are able to identify his disciples.

Understand Jesus brought them together to teach a life changing lesson. Understand the greatest lesson you could ever teach someone is loving them in spite of flaws and serving them regardless if they return the favor or not.

We do not have to be lawyer in the court room of character to expose the imperfections of those around us. Service does a great job at exposing the best and the worst in people.

“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:5)

Jesus removes the blame game through service.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray me”

Your character, your love, your service will expose folks you do not have to bring people to the altar. God has enough power to push them to a place of resentment and forgiveness themselves.

Love sets the stage for service: but be mindful, Jesus does not just show up empty handed.

“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”

The basin was brought by Jesus, the towel was brought by Jesus and most importantly the service was initiated by Jesus.

Not only does this show love and service but defies the bounds of being proactive about the toxic nature of those close to you. (Judas)

Just because you are aware of the character of someone doesn’t mean that you are exempt from loving them. Understand the devil can creep into the closest of our homies.

Love Beyond Comprehension

Love is beyond the conception of understanding. “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this”.

This is after Peter ask the question, “Lord are You washing my feet”?

Sometimes receiving love when you feel like you do not deserve it can feel comfortable.

But Jesus exemplifies what he says in , “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”.

Understand, Jesus wasn’t washing clean feet, just like when we give our lives to him our lives aren’t spotless.

There’s miles on those feet, dust and grime on those feet, sweat and dead skin on those feet.

Just like our life, there is some dust in our closet, some skeletons, some dead stuff lingering in our life. Then here is Jesus, “Hey I’ll Clean that Up for you”. Not only is He willing to clean you up, he brought the materials to clean it up. It’s His water, It’s His Basin.

Jesus Did it So We Could Do It For Each Other.

Understand that this is not just an opportunity to serve for Jesus, but an opportunity for fellowship. What we have to understand is Fellowship requires sacrifice, sometimes fellowship with some Saints require sacrifice. Sometimes the only way to teach Judas a lesson of service is to serve him amidst Satan entering his heart.

This is the same Judas in the previous chapter who said “why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

We can be so quick to judge the ministry of others. Instead of complaining about what we could be doing, we need to ask ourselves “Is this serving Christ”.

Jesus wasn’t washing the feet of the rich, he was washing feet of tax collectors and fisherman.

Service was motivated by a perspective of lowliness. Understand if you are going to serve you are going to have to use your hands and you are also going to have to spend some time on your knees.

It’s not just about Jesus showing servant leadership. It’s about understanding that if Jesus doesn’t clean us we do not belong to him.

Let’s spend some time here. Not only does Jesus reveal the issues with Judas, He says a servant is no greater than his master. Every leader must be able to serve! The servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him!

In order to love one another we have to serve one another. In order to serve one another we have to be willing to sacrifice status, regimen and routine.

There’s going to be some people we serve and love along the way that betray us, but remember Jesus left the example.

They can betray you love them like Jesus

They can try to kill your character love them like Jesus

They can treat you wrong, love them like Jesus.

Because if you love like Jesus you will rise up like Jesus. When God lifts you up, he lifts you to a place where people have no choice but to understand that they do not have power over your life or future. I serve a God that said love my enemies, but also told me that my enemies would become my footstool. I serve a God that said turn the other cheek, but I also serve a God that said don’t worry about evil doers for they too will wither like the grass.