Washing Feet

Recently I was watching an episode of The Chosen and there was a moment that struck me and God stirred my heart to share it.

The scene is when, at the Last Supper Jesus drapes a towel around his waist and one by one washes the disciples feet. Of course there were a myriad of reactions from the disciples because they didn’t understand why Jesus was doing something some humble. At that time they wore sandals and walked many miles on any given day which means that their feet were filthy. Of course I have read this in the book of John but something about the scene being portrayed grabbed my spirit.

As I watched each disciples reaction I wondered how I would react? I can certainly understand each of their reactions but the one that blew my mind was not a reaction from one of the disciples. Rather it was the reaction of Jesus when he knelt in front of Judas.

Jesus knew that he was going to betray Him and He still washed Judas’s feet. Jesus knew that Judas would facilitate his arrest and all the torture that would come after and he still poured love on him.

It brought to my attention how often we allow disagreement, disappointment and offense to sow seeds of bitterness in our hearts. Let me be honest, this world is hard! People and circumstances arise that can crush our hearts. We can each experience terrible pain, abuse and neglect from others, often from those to whom we should be closest. In this sense we, like Jesus, often go through a betrayal. But Jesus washed Judas’s feet. I just can’t shake that. I believe this simple, humble act serves as a reminder that we are called to forgive no matter what. We are called to walk humbly and serve others regardless of how we are treated. Jesus was showing us an example of covenant love so that when we faced the hard things He knew we would face in this life; we would see a way out of the prison of offense and hurt. He gave us the pathway to freedom and released us from dragging wounds through life. He loves us enough to show us how to do the hard things.

It challenged me to revisit my heart and to make sure that I held nothing against anyone. It’s easy to say we forgive but to still hold a barrier in our hearts when it comes to certain people who have hurt us. I realize that some times there are circumstances that we need to be removed from for safety etc. Although we may need to put some boundaries in our life, I believe even in those God calls us to forgive. Nothing we can experience on this earth, as horrible as evil actions can be, compares to the torture and suffering He endured and he still washed Judas’s feet.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If we want to be like Jesus we must be willing to choose love and wash feet, even those of our Judas’.