I love the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. During times of pain and struggle in my life, I have been deeply blessed by those that have followed Jesus’ example and have come alongside me, heard my raw pain, and lovingly held my hand and heart. These are the people who have been the hands and feet of Jesus and washed my feet. They have taken the broken pieces and have pointed me back to the healer—they have wiped the dirt off my spiritual feet and helped me to get clean. Sometimes they first had to gently point out the sin in my life that I have overlooked.
Because of Jesus’ death on the Cross, He has already paid the penalty for my sin, and when I accepted the gift, I became completely clean from the past sin in my life. But when I, as we all do in this fallen world, give in to my sinful nature and need forgiveness, I need to have just “my feet” cleaned, for my body/soul has already been cleansed by the Holy Spirit when Jesus first asked me to follow Him.
Forgiveness can only be granted through Christ, but our beautiful freedom in Christ is that we do not have to be alone, hidden, or ashamed of the new dirt on our feet or our souls. As believers, we can know that we have been made clean by Christ’s sacrifice for us, but we do need to continue to clean our feet as we walk through this broken world and wage our wars with our fleshly desires. Our feet will continue to get dirty, but we do not need to feel ashamed as we welcome in our brothers and sisters to help us wash our feet and share in our pain. This freedom to confess our sins to one another allows us to be real about our struggles and seek healing and victory (James 5:16). God did not intend us to fight this battle alone, but has given us His body here on earth, the church, where we may confess and grow together. While this can feel uncomfortable, as it did for Peter, Jesus says we must have our feet washed, and He calls us to wash each others’ feet. Let us strive to be a community that steps into each others’ pain and washes each other’s feet, and let us embrace the freedom to authentically share our struggles and confess to each other, so that we may follow Christ’s example.
For reflection:
- How have you served someone in a time of their pain or brokenness, even when they might not have “deserved” it? How did God use that to humble you and them?
by Tiana Ripp
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