Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come
to pass from this world to the Father.
He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
Jesus had a purpose driven life, defined and motivated by his mission. Everything he did was from his loving obedience to his Father and his merciful love for mankind. Because he was clear about his purpose he did not hesitate to follow through when things got tough. When, humans speaking, other paths might have seemed easier, Jesus did not forget the reason he had come. In this he was somewhat unique since only his entry into life on our planet was preceded by a choice on his part. The entire plan of his life had been something which he accepted while resting in the loving heart of his Father. But that purpose was hard to fully appreciate as an outsider to the inner life of the Trinity. It was for this reason among others that Jesus acted it in symbol as he washed his disciples feet on Holy Thursday.
he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.
He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples’ feet
and dry them with the towel around his waist.
He had previously stripped off the outer garment of his divine glory in order to enter the world and wash humanity free from ours sins by water and the Spirit. He set aside his prerogatives as the All Holy One and chose to come into close personal contact with sin, disease, and death, so as to heal our bodies and our souls. Make no mistake, these are more repulsive by far than the dirtiest of feet. But he did not disdain to reach out his healing hand and touch us so that he could cleanse and heal us. This trajectory of the incarnation was also described by Paul in his letter to the Philippians.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (see Philippians 2:5-8).
When we are exposed to the light of God's holiness it is normal to feel embarrassed as Peter did. We may not wish to become so vulnerable to servant love that we try to say with Peter, "You will never wash my feet". But it is crucial that we allow the saving love of Jesus to wash us if we want to share in his heavenly inheritance, since without holiness no one can see God (see Hebrews 12:14). It's interesting that such an easy thing can actually be so difficult for us. It isn't as though he asked Peter to go and complete some monumental penance or perform a large number of praiseworthy actions. He asked Peter to be passive so as to allow the divine power to work in him. But perhaps Peter, like all of us, had trouble believing that he was really lovable when all his filthiness was exposed. Maybe we fear that Jesus will see our feet, gag, and change his mind. The light of his presence heightens our awareness of the vileness of sin. But Jesus, for his part, does not hesitate as long as we concede to let him work. He is more clear about our faults than we are and yet he loves us more than we love ourselves. Thus it is not only sin that he heals by cleansing us, but our wounded hearts. We, like John, come to believe in God's love for us (see First John 4:16). Eventually. Hopefully.
You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another’s feet.
If we have been transformed by Jesus it isn't simply so that we can sit around and enjoy it. Our feet are cleaned in order that they may be beautiful in bringing the Gospel to others. As is written in Isaiah, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news" (see Isaiah 52:7). Jesus shows mercy to us so that we can let that mercy flow through us to others. He serves us in order that we might become true servants. It isn't just that he gives us a model to imitate. He makes our hearts like his own heart so that we might love others as he first loves us.
Matt Maher - Come To The Water / I Will Run To You
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