ARE YOU AFRAID OF FEET?
APRIL 14, 2022
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
Jesus was not fearful of feet. We are probably all familiar with the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Jesus and the disciples have gathered in the upper room to participate in the Passover Feast. As the evening meal is being served Jesus does something unusual. John described what Jesus does “so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around 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 around Him.” John 13:4-5
Jesus takes on a task that most of us would find very uncomfortable. Think about it you are at our next Communion Service and following the Lord’s Table celebration it is announced in response to the message of communion that we are going to have a foot washing Ceremony. A basin is brought forward in preparation for this ceremony. How many of us would be comfortable with participating? How many of us would need a washroom break at this point? Some people actually are afraid of feet. There actually is a phobia associated with feet called podiaphobia. Those who suffer from it can have high levels of anxiety at the thought of having feet exposed to them. Can you imagine suffering from this phobia, it must be terrible to battle this.
Jesus, it appears was not uncomfortable at all about washing feet. John’s gospel instructs us about what motivated Jesus to take this action. In John 13:5 it says, “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” Love is the motivating factor for all of Jesus’ actions. Through his actions Jesus teaches his disciples an important lesson.
“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 13:12-17
Jesus sets an example for the disciples in His willingness to do a task that no one else in a position of leadership would be willing to do. You see Jesus is not like many leaders today that have a motto “Do what I say”, rather Jesus says, “Do What I Do?” When we love each other we will want to serve each other. Even the tasks that we would not want to do can become possible, even enjoyable, when we love each other the way Jesus wants and invites us too.
Today is Thursday, and many Christians know today as Maundy Thursday. The word maundy means “a new commandment” and is derived from the Latin word Mandatum in translating Jesus’ commandment in John 13:34-35.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
May we all, as Jesus Followers, be known by our love!
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“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
Jesus was not fearful of feet. We are probably all familiar with the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Jesus and the disciples have gathered in the upper room to participate in the Passover Feast. As the evening meal is being served Jesus does something unusual. John described what Jesus does “so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around 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 around Him.” John 13:4-5
Jesus takes on a task that most of us would find very uncomfortable. Think about it you are at our next Communion Service and following the Lord’s Table celebration it is announced in response to the message of communion that we are going to have a foot washing Ceremony. A basin is brought forward in preparation for this ceremony. How many of us would be comfortable with participating? How many of us would need a washroom break at this point? Some people actually are afraid of feet. There actually is a phobia associated with feet called podiaphobia. Those who suffer from it can have high levels of anxiety at the thought of having feet exposed to them. Can you imagine suffering from this phobia, it must be terrible to battle this.
Jesus, it appears was not uncomfortable at all about washing feet. John’s gospel instructs us about what motivated Jesus to take this action. In John 13:5 it says, “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” Love is the motivating factor for all of Jesus’ actions. Through his actions Jesus teaches his disciples an important lesson.
“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 13:12-17
Jesus sets an example for the disciples in His willingness to do a task that no one else in a position of leadership would be willing to do. You see Jesus is not like many leaders today that have a motto “Do what I say”, rather Jesus says, “Do What I Do?” When we love each other we will want to serve each other. Even the tasks that we would not want to do can become possible, even enjoyable, when we love each other the way Jesus wants and invites us too.
Today is Thursday, and many Christians know today as Maundy Thursday. The word maundy means “a new commandment” and is derived from the Latin word Mandatum in translating Jesus’ commandment in John 13:34-35.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
May we all, as Jesus Followers, be known by our love!
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