“After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
John 13.5 (NIV)
Have you ever thought about that question? What would you do if you knew you had one day to live? I saw it posted on a friends’ Facebook page. It hit hard. I thought about some possible things to do.
I would like to spend time with the people I love the most. I would spend part of the day walking on a beach, especially at sunrise or sunset. I would want to eat the best steak that could be prepared. I would like to go places on my bucket list – South Africa, Paris, and Wales. I would like to spend some time with my dearest friends.
As I was thinking about what I would do, I read what my friend posted on his Facebook page. He shared that on Jesus’ last day, instead of similar to some of the things I listed, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. Jesus washed feet!
Jesus knew that death was imminent. Instead of attending to His bucket list of self-fulfilling things, He stooped and washed the feet of His disciples. He continued to teach the disciples lessons on being a servant by showing them how to show love and how to serve. Jesus washed feet!
I was convicted. I did not think about washing someone’s feet. I did not think about volunteering at the Firehouse Shelter, or distributing food from our church. I did not think about doing outreach work. I did not ask, “What would Jesus do?”
Maybe that is the question that should be at the forefront of our minds in every situation. In all that we think about, maybe we should consider and ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” Jesus attended a wedding feast. Jesus healed the sick. Jesus calmed storms. Jesus fed people. Jesus taught important lessons. Jesus raised the dead. Jesus forgave sinners. Jesus blessed the children. On the eve before being put to death, Jesus washed feet. The Savior of the world washed feet. He bent down and washed the feet of the disciples.
We can learn from Jesus. While facing death, He taught us what is important. With the cross in front of Him, Jesus bent over and served the disciples by washing their feet. We can be creatively imaginative in finding ways to serve one another. Just as Jesus continues to make a difference, we can make a difference in the lives of so many people if we seize every opportunity given us to serve. Amen.
