What I say to you when I wash your feet

How does Jesus respond when the disciples want to show off? He puts a towel around his waist, gets onto his knees, and in silence, washes their feet.

Let’s imagine the experience…

As Jesus washes, they watch him, and as he gently washes the crusty mud flakes off their feet, their hard hearts are gently softened. Jesus’ hands speak in the tones of love.

As his fingers caress the nodules, corns and calluses, with soothing rubs, there is a kindness massaged into their sensual experience. Jesus does with actions what words hardly ever do. And with minimal effort.

The words “I am the greatest” are ringing in the ears of a couple of them, as they see their Master — the one who has taught them all spiritual wonder, who has healed thousands in their direct sight, who has been the essence of the Incarnation of God — stooping to wash their feet, as a servant does.

There’s no complaint, simply a joy on the face of Jesus who is in his element serving the disciples he loves; those who will soon turn their backs on him.

There are no words. There’s communication, but no words. The air is thick with meaning.

Love has no compelling words. It has actions that are compelling.

Words distance. Actions attract. Words promise. Action delivers.

Words tend to turn people off. But silence! That has power. And silence with action; that’s wisdom.

What if we were to wash each other’s feet. What if I were to wash yours in the spirit Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.

What I say to you when I wash your feet is, “I love you, and you are worthy of me doing this beautiful thing to you, for you.”

I’m saying, without words, that there is power in action — that love is action-oriented.

I’m saying,
“I can do this and feel on top of the world,
because this is how much you mean to me.”

And I’m saying, “While I do this, I take myself off the throne and I put Christ back there where he alone belongs. While I do this I’m safe, hidden with Christ in God, because I’m forced to be humble, and that is good for both you and me.”

If ever we’re truly honest, no matter how good we think we are, we quickly come to realise we are only a moment away from having our feet washed for us. The power in that moment is this: instantly we recognise that it is the one who washes feet who is greatest in the Kingdom of God.

The power of the Kingdom is ours to serve others when we give our power over for the sake of the Kingdom.

We are happiest when our hearts find
creative ways of authentically serving others.