Love - IX

Before celebrating the Jewish holiday of Passover, Jesus dressed as one of the lowest slaves and washed his disciples’ feet.

In a place where people wear sandals and walking is the most common means of travel, feet get dirty. And households assign the lowest, least valuable slave the job of washing visitor’s feet when they enter the house. Jesus assumed that job for himself. He took the lowest position and cleaned his disciples’ feet.

Is Jesus really concerned about feet? He is infinitely more concerned about hearts than his is about feet. Some Christian groups believe Jesus gave a literal command to wash feet. Jesus was commanding all of us to assume a position of the least slave.

In the current church, there are jobs that have glitz and glamour. These jobs are more spiritual, more valuable, and, in the eyes of the congregation, make those people more important. As in, it is more important to lead worship. It is more important to deliver the message. Those people are more Christ-like than those watching children in the nursery. Yet Jesus – Most High God, Creator of the universe, Ultimate High Priest – washed feet.

This ought to tell us something about our hearts. This ought to tell us something about our priorities. Maybe one of the requirements for being an elder or pastor is a monthly stint in the nursery.

The core of love is giving. The hardest things for modern people to give are their time, energy and convenience.