Lessons From the Road to Calvary预览

Whether in fairy tales of kings dressing as commoners or modern television shows with CEOs going undercover as workers, the “leader as a servant” theme can often be overdone. But on the night before He died, the King of Creation took on the lowliest of tasks — washing the feet of His disciples.

In John chapter thirteen, John tells us that after supper had ended, Jesus girded Himself with a towel, took a basin of water, and began to wash the disciples’ feet. Feet are not the most pleasant-smelling thing to begin with. But imagine feet that had been in sandals in a hot, dusty, desert climate; feet that had been walking everywhere, stepping in dirt that was mixed with all manner of foul-smelling matter. This would be a challenge for anyone.

Can you imagine this scene? Jesus was gladly performing the task that all the disciples should have done. They should have been washing Jesus’ feet.

When Jesus came to Peter, Peter said, …Thou shalt never wash my feet. (John 13:8) This begins an interesting back-and-forth where Jesus reminds Peter that if he is not washed, he has no part with Jesus. Impetuous Peter then responds by asking Jesus to wash all of him.

Jesus then sets up a lesson we need to learn from this scene. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:10)

When we trust Christ as our Savior, we are washed clean. However, as we go through life, we are going to stumble. We are going to sin and need forgiveness. We need a daily “cleansing of our feet” by coming to our Lord in prayer and asking for His forgiveness. When we do that, He is …faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Lesson: Christian, keep short accounts with God. Go boldly to His throne every day and receive His forgiveness and cleansing.