Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. – John 13:3-5 ESV
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. In a highly unexpected move to lower himself from his position of Rabbi and as the Son of God, Jesus did what a servant of a slave would have done in the first century. He did it for people who he was master over, no less. The question is, why? Why did Jesus do something that was not prescribed by society for his position? Perhaps it was too demonstrate that no single person is above another. Or maybe it was show his disciples the length at which he is willing to sacrifice everything. He is God, coming from the Father, and cleaning the dirt on his creation when creation is underserved of this type of care. Aside from why, what Jesus did is interesting and by far the more important question. Jesus, for example knew where he came from–God, the Father– and knew where he was going–to God, the Father– and so he did something unexpected. The “what” was unexpected but powerfully moving and challenging. If you knew where you came from and where you were going, would you do things differently? What would I have done or what would I do differently if I knew where I was going? Would I be able to do something as unorthodox and countercultural as Jesus? I would hope so. After all, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection point to where we all go if we believe in him. So what is stopping us from doing some extraordinary things with our lives? Knowing that your life until now stemmed from God to bring you to this point in your life, regardless of how fair or unfair you think it has been: and knowing that in faith you will return to God, what actions are you willing to take?
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