Washing my Feet?
I have spent a lot of time trying to understand the whole feet washing incident in the book of John.What is Jesus really trying to teach me? As men we have tried for centuries to wrap our heads around this story in the Bible. The answer is that Jesus is teaching us we must serve…Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah. That’s just a typical third grade Sunday School answer that shows that I have never took the time to contemplate the true meaning. Now I understand what Jesus is saying intellectually, but can I grasp it with my heart? I realized finally that I couldn’t. He is God, and I am not, so I decided to try to understand it from another perspective. I spent time trying to see through the eyes of Peter. Now many of my friends have said that of all of the disciples I am probably most like Peter: reactive, obnoxious at times and usually to quick to judge a situation. This might not be as much of a stretch as I thought.
Peter’s reaction is very much what mine would have been I am sure. I don’t think so, bud! You aren’t washing my feet! I am washing yours! You have taught me everything I know, understand and love about God. I thought of the all of the mentors that I have had in my life. I don’t know if I would let them wash my feet either. You see the problem with Peter was worthiness. Jesus is teaching him that it doesn’t matter if he thinks he is worthy; Jesus wants Peter to know he thinks he is worthy. Even as I write this down the tears begin to well in my eyes over this new understanding from Peter’s perspective. You see Jesus knew that Peter had the stamina, the courage and the leadership skills to feed his sheep, but what he lacked was a deep understanding of how much Jesus (God’s love) loved him. Peter had to get to a point where he was willing to lay down his life for his friends. Peter wasn’t there yet. Years later when he was crucified I am sure he was still struggling with it.
So how can you grasp the immensity of God’s love for you? The answer is you just can’t, at least not completely in this lifetime. You have to “trust” and “receive” as you go along the path of life, and know each time you experience His presence He is showing you just a glimpse of the magnitude of His love for you.
The important thing is to work at understanding the depths of His love for you for only one reason; you must give it away!
Seeing through the Eyes of the Heart 
Mike, me and David Morse were just talking about this same thing yesterday. I have the knowledge that God wants me to be all I can and to have an intimate relationship with him and wants to do great things through me. Sometimes though, relaying that knowledge from my head to my heart where it becomes faith seems like a huge chasm to cross, but i am getting there. I love your “Peterness”, dont ever stop being that way, it encourages all your brothers around you!!
Thanks brother! One step at a time, unless God says take off running. Love you man!
Mike, I think if we are honest we all ask questions like how worthy am I?, how worthy do I have to be? and at times…..am I worthy at all? The answers to those questions definitely affect my ability to relay what God has for me to offer others. Man, then I realize that Christ has washed eveyone’s feet by going to the cross, but at times in my heart the question remains can I accept everything he has for me, can I recover my heart so I can receive it completely? In quite intimate moments with the father the answer is yes! In the reality of man and life a struggle continues. Work in progress brother. Like Scott said, we love you and thanks for the encouragement.
Thanks for yours Jack! I’ll have to tell you what sparked this blog. Amazing!