Think about your feet after a hike amongst Alaska’s beauty. I’m sure you haven’t thought about that very often! I’m taking off my socks and boots, imagining the smell and smeared, sweaty dirt on my feet. Soon we will get to experience hiking on muddy trails when all this snow melts. Spring is coming, and then our feet will be even dirtier! Now, put on some sandals for this hike, since that was the typical footwear in Jesus’ time when dusty dirt roads were the typical paths traveled. Can you even find a clean spot on your feet? Do you have a member of your household or a friend who would stoop to wash them?
The words in today’s verse were spoken by Jesus to His disciples in the Upper Room just hours before He was arrested. Surely, their thoughts about this time together were heavy as they processed everything that had happened that evening. Why did Jesus wash their feet during one of His last times with them?
Feet were very dirty in Biblical times, so when someone entered a house, a servant washed their feet in service and hospitality. Process that! Jesus stooped to do one of the lowliest tasks of a servant to wash the disciple’s feet. This was His final teaching for them, and Jesus took the posture of a servant to reinforce the importance of serving with humility.
There are many humble acts of service by Jesus and the disciples in the Bible. They served the hungry by feeding them (John 6:1-15). The apostle Barnabus showed humility when he sold a field and generously gave the money to the disciples (Acts 4:36-37). The disciples also appointed elders to care for widows (Acts 6:1-6). Because Jesus’ teachings were followed, serving with humility became a defining and identifying characteristic of His followers.
The ultimate act of humility was Jesus dying upon the cross to pay the debt for our sins. It is Holy Week, an observance by Christians all over the world, in remembrance of the events leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus. This Sacred series ends this week, so I explored the connections between holy, sacred, and humility to prepare my heart for Holy Week. Holy means to be set apart from this world. In His ultimate act of humility, Jesus set us apart from this world by giving believers in Him eternal life, which is so not of this world! Pastor Brian shared that when something in ordinary life is set apart by the presence of God, it is sacred. Humility requires prioritization of serving others over self and giving God the glory. It considers the intent of one’s heart, and when priority is given to God and others, we are set apart. My heart wants to embody the holy, the sacred, and humility every week – not just Holy Week!
If we follow the ways in which Jesus and the disciples served, which reversed the social norms of their time, we can reverse the social norms of our time, too! It is never beneath us to serve others; it is about following His examples of humble service. Think about what could happen if we put aside social status, education, career, or any other worldly ambition to humbly serve others.
Jesus humbly washed the disciple’s feet. For them, Jesus stooped to be their servant and, in the process, showed them what it meant to be their Lord! For us, Jesus stooped to serve us by dying on the cross and rising back to life to prove He is Lord. He loves us that much!
He died for all people – Christians and non-Christians. Do you know Him as Lord? If not, Holy Week is a great time to explore making Him Lord of your life. When we trust Jesus as Lord, we acknowledge His sacrifice for our sins and the need to follow His examples to serve with humility.
In the remaining days until Easter, please prayerfully consider serving in humility and inviting those you serve to one of ACF’s Easter Services to share your Jesus. Here are a few ideas:
Will you take off someone’s sandals and wash their feet? Humbly serving is sacred and holy! Stoop to serve others with humility and love!
Eagle River Campus
16620 Brooks Loop
Eagle River, AK 99577
NE Anchorage Campus
Regal Tikahtnu
1102 N Muldoon Rd B
Anchorage, AK 99504
