“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”
John 13:14-17 NLT
When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, He took on one of the lowliest jobs that could have been performed in that culture. It was a task usually undertaken by the servant who was lowest in the household pecking order, or, in some parts of the world at that time, by a slave. By doing such a thing, Jesus was aligning Himself with the lowest in society, doing the lowest of duties. And we mustn’t forget that this was God we are talking about. Jesus pointed out to His disciples that He, their Lord and Teacher, the “slave” or “messenger”, was prepared to do anything for others, no matter how lowly a task it seemed to be.
The disciples lived the rest of their lives with Jesus’ actions hanging before them. They were never going to forget that supper they shared, the one where Jesus washed their feet. But as we fast forward to the 21st Century, the same picture graces our faith. We still have a worldly culture, a pecking order with those who have the most materialistic wealth, or those with the best jobs, enjoying a lifestyle with no room for a foot washing mindset. Company bosses order their subordinates to do the more menial of tasks. An aristocratic collection of landowners still expect the forelock-tugging action and attitude of the farm labourers. And in our churches, the religious leaders sometimes have the same mindset, forgetting the example of our Lord as they go about their liturgies, proud of their status and forgetting the reality of washing feet.
Before God all men are equal. As is often said, there is level ground before the Cross of Christ. No task in God’s Kingdom is too lowly for His people to do. Jesus pointed out that those who do the modern equivalent of foot washing will be truly blessed. I know a man who pastored a church in Scotland for several years. The building was old and needed a lot of attention, but without complaining or making a fuss, he quietly did what was necessary, ensuring that the building was fit for Sunday worship and the other meetings that took place. Most people were not aware of his dedication and commitment in doing the lowliest of tasks, but God did and I’m sure he will be richly blessed. Men and women like him are the bedrock of our faith and they understood what Jesus did that day long ago in that upper room, understanding His example and doing what He said.
We pilgrims understand too what Jesus has done for us, and we too look out for menial and lowly jobs that will bless others around us. Jobs that others baulk at doing. We join the church cleaning rota. We volunteer to help our elderly neighbours. We pick up the litter that blights our streets. We are the salt and light that savours our communities. We wash their “feet” at every opportunity.
Dear Father God. You called us to a life of service and we do Your will gladly in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 