Anything But Feet Lord!

Why feet Lord? Why did you choose to wash the feet of your disciples? Anything but feet Lord! You see I hate feet. Some people don't like ears especially as we get older and they seem to get bigger. But I just don't like feet. I shared that one Sunday with our community of faith while teaching. Our people have such high mercy gifts that the next Sunday they all showed up in sandals, Crocs and other open-toed shoes. Now that's just not right! :)

Thursday we will be washing feet during our Maundy Thursday worship service. Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, is a service to commemorate Jesus' Last Supper and the beginning of our observance and remembrance of the Lord's Supper, or communion. The word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, which means "commandment." At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34). To show them how much he loved them he washed their feet. On Maundy Thursday many Christians practice foot washing as they remember Jesus' example of washing the disciples' feet after the Last Supper in John 13.

Foot washing was reserved for servants. It was considered the least of tasks. Dirty, smelly, filthy feet covered in dust. the people walked everywhere they went so feet were like modern day tires on dirt roads. They picked up everything. Foot washing conveys submission and humility. This is how Jesus loves. He wanted to show the disciples the extent of His love and nothing was too low for Him. Imagine having your feet washed by the King of Glory!

I'd rather clean someone's toilet than wash their feet, but Jesus chose feet. He knew exactly what He was doing and what He was calling His followers to do. How can I truly be a practicing member of a community of unconditional love if I can't wash feet? So Thursday at Mosaic as part of our Maundy Thursday worship we will wash feet after communion. It's not about us either. It's a reminder that our Savior not only came to suffer on our behalf, but He serves us as well.

In seminary during Holy Week the faculty practiced this ancient form of worship during Holy Week. It made an incredible impression on me. Godly men and women with PhD's washed my feet. Men and women of profound faith and theology who led us in the classrooms were also showing us that nothing was beneath them. They became servants. It was so humbling to have people I admired, respected and followed, wash my feet. How much more significant that first foot washing during Passover must have been. So Thursday as we break the bread and share the cup, we will wash feet and remember. The march to Friday continues.