Daily S.O.A.P.: Wash Your Step!

Scripture:
John 12:7-10
"Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet,but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”"

Observation:
This passage gets preached on frequently in the context of how we should serve one another and prefer one another in honor, etc. All of this is, of course, unquestionably true. If we claim to be Christ-followers, disciples of Jesus, then we must learn from him that we are not primarily here for our own self-gratification and self-promotion. We are here as servants of Christ and by extension servants of those who bear the image of Christ, who are members of his body.

But, I've never heard anyone address what to me seems an obvious, though somewhat puzzling comment that Jesus makes about this object lesson that he presents at his final meal with his disciples. He tells them that they are not going to get what he is really trying to convey to them by his act of foot washing. And I think we don't get it either. I mean, what is difficult to comprehend if we view this demonstration as simply an act of uncommon humility in which the master becomes the servant? It's not rocket science! And it's not a new theme in the disciple's curriculum either. Humility and service are woven through much of Jesus' teaching.

So what is it that he is claiming that they will miss in this living parable? The key, I believe, is in what he says to counter Peter's prideful protest: "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." We just gloss over this statement as if it's just Jesus trying to squeeze some extra juice out of this moment by raising an off-topic parallel. But I believe that he's actually speaking to his central point about this act of foot-washing. He explains it further with the clarification that Peter is already clean and that he only needs his feet washed occasionally. He's not talking about physical acts of service here, but about the central focus of what will become the 'sanctification process' after he completes his work on the cross and returns to the Father: confessing our faults (sins) to one another and praying for one another that we may be healed. And it's not just about us each volunteering our self-disclosure to a fellow disciple, Jesus also tells us that when we see one of our brothers or sisters sinning, we are to confront them in private with their trespasses. We are not very good at this, in general, in the body of Christ. We do so-so at creating safe environments for self-disclosure, but avoid consistently Jesus' command to be confrontational when we see a brother blowing it. It's not easy and it takes intentionality and lots of grace.

Application:
I definitely have room for growth in this area. I struggle with a co-dependent fear of rejection when it comes to pulling a brother's covers. I can recall a situation that was so egregious that it screamed to have this spiritual CPR administered, but the offending person has such a strong personality that I kept my trap clapped out of fear. It didn't stop me from sharing it with my wife though, which probably was gossip for me. Though I have exercised this spiritual discipline on several occasions, I think that often when there has been a blip on my radar I've waited, out of fear and doubt, until the the target was nearly out of range before launching the torpedo. I recall one incident recently where the person couldn't completely recall the situation that I was trying to bring to their attention. Stalling is not helpful, and in most cases I think it's better to wait for another infraction before bringing it up. If significant time has elapsed...forget it!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the blood of Christ. Thank you for his finished work on the cross that settles the issue of sin and eternal life for everyone who responds in faith to your call to repentance and to make your Son, Jesus, Lord and Savior of their life. Thank you that though you accept me as I am when I come to you in faith and repentance, you don't leave me as I am. Thank you that you have taught us and demonstrated the means of grace by which we find healing and transformation through confession and prayer. Thank you for giving us this holy commandment to be our brother's keeper and to lovingly hold one another accountable for how we represent your Holy Name. Please help me and my brothers and sisters to be courageous and wise in how we relate to one another. Help us to have pure hearts as we follow your example of washing the world from one another's feet. Amen.