Can You Use a Towel As Jesus Did?

Posted in By Patty Kennedy 0 comments


Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet (John 13:14).

This scene has to be one of the most poignant in the entire New Testament. Knowing what is about to befall Him, knowing the excruciating death that is imminent, Jesus reclines at table with His disciples to share their last meal together. Suddenly He arises, removes his outer garment, and wraps a towel around His waist. He pours water into a basin and begins to wash the feet of His disciples.

Though foot washing was a common practice in the ancient world, it was generally done by slaves. It would have been appropriate for the disciples to wash Jesus' feet, but for Him to wash theirs must have seemed nearly blasphemous. Peter strenuously objects, revealing his love for Jesus -- but it is a defective love in that it lacks humility. Peter is responding from a worldly perspective.

According to a commentary, the verb used for Jesus removing His outer garment was not the usual one for this action. Rather, the verb was more frequently used to illustrate laying down one's life. Similarly, the verb used for taking up His garments following the foot washing (in verse 12) was used to describe Jesus taking up His life again.

Imagine. The Son of God taking up a towel and washing feet. Not only was He willing to do an extraordinarily menial task, but He did it with incomprehensible love.

How are we at doing menial tasks? We may not think it takes much to clean a toilet or bus dishes or scrub the floor. But can we perform these tasks with the incredible mind-set with which Jesus washed His disciples' feet? Think of the depth of love and servanthood and humility!
The things Jesus did were of the most menial and commonplace order, and this is an indication that it takes all God's power in me to do the most commonplace things IN HIS WAY. Can I use a towel as He did? (Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest, emphasis mine)
As I meditated on this beautiful act, I realized I needed an attitude adjustment. How often have I thought some menial chore was beneath me? Or how often have I performed such tasks with a poor attitude?

Father, may we not only desire to do commonplace things, but to do them with extraordinary love as unto You.