The Washing of Our Feet

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. (John 13:4-7)

The God of Heaven is here washing the feet of the one who was about to deny him. 

This humility is beyond comprehension. 

Did Peter truly understand what was happening? That he was being served by his Heavenly Master? That the one who knit him and formed his feet in the woman, now touched and washed his feet that had trod in the dirt, that dirt created forth from the mind of the one who knelt before him? 

The dirt had been formed by the hands that now were laid on him. The water flowing over his feet from the creator of water. The one who knows every molecule and drop from where that water came from. 

Surely Heaven and Earth stood still in this moment. A silence in Heaven at the awe and revelation of our great God. 

The one who made, the one who shaped, the one who washed and cleansed. The one who laid aside his garments of celestial glory to wash us is in his flesh and blood. 

What divine love!

Who can search the depths of such grace? For eternity, we will be beholding this love face to face.

O Jesus, my feet are dirty.

Come even as a slave to me,

pour water into your bowl,

come and wash my feet.

In asking such a thing I know I am overbold

but I dread what was threatened when you said to me,

“If I do not wash your feet I have no fellowship with you.”

Wash my feet then, because I long for your companionship.

And yet, what am I asking?

It was well for Peter to ask you to wash his feet,

for him that was all that was needed for him to be clean in every part.

With me it is different:

though you wash me now I shall still stand in need of that other washing,

the cleansing you promised when you said,

“there is a baptism I must needs be baptized with.”

- Origen