What Does it Take?

What does it take to wash dirty feet? Dirty hands.

We looked at John 13 two weeks ago and the amazing example of our Savior placing himself in the literal form of a servant. This wasn't new to Jesus. He had been serving in many ways up to this point, but now he placed himself in a position that no one considered themselves to be in.

Briefly, I believe Jesus is simply showing. He is showing the "full extent of his love" through his "example" of what it takes to be a disciple. There is also recognition that dirty feet exist and the disciples of Jesus must be in positions to wash them. At the very core, a disciple is a servant to others.

In Jesus' act of washing feet, he had to put himself in a position to accomplish the task. In other words, he got his hands dirty. Jesus' model for ministry is seen throughout the Gospels. He sees a need and acts on it. The same is true in this encounter. He sees the need, the dirty feet, and acts on it. There many levels to Jesus' action here, but his evident setting of the table for his disciples to serve is the one I want to focus on.

What will it take for his disciples today to wash feet, to bring the ministry of Christ to life in a real way? Dirty hands. This means action. This means disciples placing themselves in positions to accomplish the works that surround them.

I love the physical description that John gives. In order for Jesus to place himself in this position of a foot washer, he physically prepared himself for the work. He took his clothes off and symbolically transformed himself into the role of a true servant. Maybe we need to do the same. Perhaps we need to throw off the things that prevent us from being servants, the things that get in the way of us getting our hands dirty with the real work of disciples and put on the minimal outwear that is needed of servants.

Quickly, I am reminded of the "rich young man" who walks away from Jesus because he is unwilling to shed himself of the wealth he has. I think what we take off or shed will be different for us all. We must evaluate what stands in the way of us getting our hands dirty. We have to be honest with ourselves and before God to seek the clothing we wear that prevents us from being the true servants. The harder part for most will be taking those things off. I fear, myself included, that we may end up walking away from Jesus in some instances.

We (generally speaking) are very good at walking away. We have almost perfected it to an art and our society almost expects people to eventually walk away, especially when life changes and happiness (whatever that truly may be) is gone. Is it too tough? Walk away. Not what you thought it would be? Walk away. However, if you look at our Godly, saving example in Christ and especially in this passage in John 13, walking away is not an option. Followers of Christ, his disciples, have been called and brought to another standard. Walking away is not that standard nor is it an option.

In fact, it is entirely opposite of the world's standards and expectations. Jesus didn't turn away from the task of ministry and service. He embraced it and made sure his life reflected a servant more than a comfortable, well off man. He made sure his hands were dirty.

So we need to start with shedding those things that are in our way. This is tough but I believe in this process we position ourselves for ministry to others, which is what Christ was all about. This means we get honest with ourselves and more than likely we do some real life shedding of belongings, money and perhaps people. These are the things that are preventing us from taking the position of a servant.

Secondly, we need to do it. I think too often we sit observe and brainstorm and meet over possibilities and formulate plans and try to get approval through whatever leadership structure is in place. Too often we observe a need and do very little to immediately meet that need. We can't do that and we shouldn't. We have been equipped, every single one us in unique ways, to get our hands dirty. Jesus didn't see a blind man begging for help and talk it over with a committee, chart plan to be effective in that work and make sure everyone was on board with the work before doing something abou it. He saw the need and acted. Not that I have any power, but I want to empower you to do the same. Act on the need you see before you and get your hands dirty.

Lastly, I want us to realize that dirty hands is living the mission of Jesus Christ. Jesus said that he didn't come to Earth to be with the righteous (those who thought they were righteous) but to come and save the sick and the poor. In other words, Jesus came to get his hands dirty. What an amazing God.

What will it take for us to be people who aren't satisfied with the hurt, pain, suffering, lost situations in our world, in our community? We have to get off the bench. We have to stop being spectators. We must no longer be people who justify our non-action. We can't keep clothing ourselves with wants and desires. We have to get our hands dirty.