Our Foot Washing Master

While serving in the U.S. Air Force on Okinawa back in the late 1960’s, I and my fellow airmen experienced an unusual phenomenon — a boss who was not afraid to get his hands dirty! Whenever freight trucks would back up to the warehouse unloading ramp to deliver their goods, this Lieutenant Colonel would help his airmen unload the trucks.

By willingly performing this action, He displayed a self-less attitude of service rather than the usual selfish ego-driven individual desiring only to be served. How could anyone not want to willingly love and serve this kind of individual?

Similarly, we see our spiritual Master [boss] in John 13:1-17 who was not afraid of getting His hands dirty. Here we see Jesus, the Son of God (John 3:16) — the Creator of the universe (John 1:1-3; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:12-16), humbling Himself to do one of the most menial tasks known to man — foot washing.

If Jesus could willingly humble Himself in submission to His Father’s will (Philippians 2:3-9), are we any better than Jesus in lovingly and willingly submitting our will to His will? (John 13:13-17; cf. Matthew 10:24; Luke 6:40; John 15:20; Matthew 7:21).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets