The Word for Writers

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Excuse me for a moment, as I kneel here before you, towel in hand.

As we read what follows, (the Word) we are "communing." We are taking in the Word and swallowing it.

The common household pictures of "The Lord's Supper" are not a true depiction of what communion was like. In biblical times, tables in which people ate were actually on the floor. They didn't have legs to make them tall enough that people could put their legs underneath them. Instead, people sat around the tables in a circle, each one's feet facing the next person's face. Imagine having a meal and, every time you look down, there are some funky feet in your face. Gross, huh? That was the scenario in John chapter 13:

1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, HE NOW SHOWED THEM THE FULL EXTENT OF HIS LOVE. 2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
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My desire was to commune with my Father, to bask in the holiness of His presence. And sometimes, it’s just that simple. But sometimes, well...

I've been scrubbed, washed, cleansed, forgiven, buffed to a glossy shine, and fine tuned with a cotton swab. Hallelujah! Oh, I'm not boasting. See, I know that I know that I know... I know because I felt the scrape of the screen filtering out that liquid gold. But the Lord God Almighty's chastening never surprises me... umm... much. It didn't surprise me much this time either. I welcomed it with open arms, just like I welcome water or air.

He loves me. If you aren't chastened on a fairly regular basis, I'd do some serious soul searching... and I don't mean "what looks good to me when I look at me." I'm talking the kind of crying out that David did. OH GOD! SEARCH ME! CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART! Oh, are we above all that crying stuff? Sorry, I know that was tacky. But my feet are still being wrapped in a wet, hot towel to soak off some pretty stuck-on grime.

He directed me to take a look at my feet. They were a filthy shade of yuk. "I cleaned you from the inside out. When I clean, I'm thorough. But you walk through life in a filthy world. And you do so on those beautiful feet." How humbling it is to have One so holy, so beautiful, so radiant and pure wash my feet.

I am neither proud, nor do I pretend to be worthy, nor do I pretend to be something I am not. I have learned that it is of a necessity to walk in a spirit of humility if one desires to stay IN Christ. I know exactly where I came from. But I also know who I am in Christ Jesus. I’d rather wash His people’s feet as a token of my servitude, as a blessing for those who are a blessing to Him...

But you’re so much better off if He does it Himself. He’s more thorough than I am. Try, Friend, to remember that your feet are going to be filthy again tomorrow, that none of us are beyond having filthy feet because we must endure living in a filthy world.

The chastening isn't always fun, but I take great comfort in knowing, He'll do it again, and again, and again. And when I reach absolute, 100% perfection, well, I guess I'll be sitting up there next to my First Love.

The Lord Jesus, in that holy place in which we communed together, knelt down and washed the grime from my feet while my tears of humility flooded over Him. The Lord Jesus -- a servant? Hardly. Holy, perfect, glorious, spotless Lamb of God, the example to live by, the strength to keep walking in a world of filth.

And now, let us continue to commune with John chapter 13:

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 18“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ 19“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

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And so it appears that I will be washing your feet after all. It isn't because I'm grossed out by the filthiness of them, nor is it because I am impressed by the beauty of them. No, I'll be washing your feet now as an example of the Lord of my life. As your handmaiden, I humbly ask you to be still and allow me to embrace your feet as I intercede for you. As I kneel here, in His Name, He intercedes for you at the right hand of the Father. Blessed is His Name. And blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Let us be filled as we read in the same chapter: 34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

© Joyce Pool

I Samuel 25:40-41 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee to take thee to him to wife. And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

Song of Solomon 7:1 How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

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