Jesus Washing His Disciples Feet
John 13:12-17
"12When 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. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

Washing someones feet can be a little awkward or even gross as some would say, yet, what was Jesus really trying to teach as He washed his disciples feet? There is something beautiful and wonderful in the position of humbling yourself to wash someones feet. This past weekend my family, and a few friends from college, got together at my mother's house for prayer as well as to do some feet washing. What an awesome experience it was to see my family take this position and encourage each other... healing surely took place!

As I watched each of my family members kneel and began to wash person by person's feet the tears that were shared is a memory that would never leave my heart. Words were exchanged that brought forgiveness to once broken and distant relationships. One of my uncles asked my mother for forgiveness for hurting her in the past. He shared how he remembered of when they were children, how close they once were, and how he missed those days from long ago.
If I may share what truly touched my heart during this time was when the very uncle I felt furthest from said something to me that truly melted my heart. As I washed his feet I shared how he, being the oldest of the men in the family, felt he was being overlooked, and the hurt he felt because he was the least of the children that was given attention. I reminded him of how in the Bible God would choose the youngest to an anointed calling; the story of David and Joseph was whom I referred to. How the older brothers of David, and Joseph were jealous of their young brother because they were young and were given more attention. How about the story of the prodigal son, I shared, who was given a feast after disowning his father and blowing away his inheritance, yet, the oldest son was there by his fathers side all this time. I reminded my uncle that God had never overlooked him, He had never forgotten him at all. My uncles stare at me was so penetrating, but the confidence I felt in the words that was coming out of my mouth, I knew was of the Lord. In continuing, I shared that to fulfill Gods calling we must submit to His timing, and will as well; that it was not by our strength or even by our own timing. When the time for this very uncle came to wash my feet he said of how he knew that God was using me to bring the family together. As he had shared before with my mother that he wanted to be the one to bring the family together, but he continued by calling me the David of the family, the angel that God was using to bless this family by leading them into the direction and will of Lord. My heart sank, I couldn't hold back the tears that poured out from my eyes...

I may not share all of what had happened on that day, but I must say this: I am so proud of my family. I am more than blessed to have a family that would humble themselves to come together by a last minute phone call, listen to what God had put in my heart, and share with each other words that would bring healing, forgiveness, and love through the washing of feet. I am more than humbled, honored even, to be called the David or the angel of this family. Know this that I would fight til the death for them. The devil can not have them! He would have to come through me to get to them. Surely I would not give up so easily. Who would stand in the gap for my family? Who would intercede for them? If no one else would stand in the gap for my family then I will, Lord!

So...What really matters? Is it brokenness? How about forgiveness? Surely it must be the ability to humble ones self to love another enough to wash each others feet? Healing is definitely more than just washing feet; so what does healing look like? Jesus commanded us to serve rather than to lead...why? Yet, why is it we are so quick to lead rather than serve? Didn't Jesus serve His disciples? Or did He lead His disciples? How did He lead and how did He serve?
How did Jesus show us the full extent of His love? Death on the cross. John 3:17 says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Can what really matters change the way we ought to see the world? Through what lens should we see peoples faults and sins? Jesus cried out,"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" as He was being crucified (Luke 23:34). I hope as we engage the issues of this ever changing world may we never forget the price Christ paid for all of us, not just a selected few. That even though we are in a fallen world remember Christ is ever risen!

I also appreciate my friends that came along with me; thank you for being sensitive to the Spirit of God and allowing Him to use you in the time with my family.