Lent Day 30: Doing the dirty work

Jesus is literally Master of the Universe. He can claim importance, status, service and obeisance from others.

Yet he does just the opposite. He finds a bowl and water, and takes a towel. He does the dirty work of the humblest servant to demonstrate spiritual leadership to his disciples. 
Read what happens in John 13:
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.

> It's mind-bending and utterly incomprehensible to his disciples. What is their rabbi doing? Peter, quick to respond to any situation, refuses.

[Jesus] came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’

Jesus replied, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’

‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’

> Yet Jesus insists. He is modeling a Kingdom of service and humility that has never been understood before. The lesson is so clear that his disciples will never forget it. John, the best friend of Jesus, records its significance.

Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’

Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’

Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

> Jesus, knowing Peter will deny him and Judas will betray him, washes their feet as well. If you knew a close friend will deny knowing you, would you still be wiling to serve them with humility? Would you still stoop to serve someone in your inner circle who is about to betray you (to death, no less!) 
When 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. ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord”, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

'Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:1-17)

> How does your life with Jesus shape how you lead? How you serve?

> How do you embrace your place - high or low - in the world, your neighborhood, or in your friendships and family? Are you striving to be seen - or content with what God brings into your life?

> Does this reflect what Jesus asked of his disciples and of you?

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