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“and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” John‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬

He washed their feet. All of them.

The one who would betray him.

The one who doubted him even though he’d seen his miracles,

The ones who were racist.

The ones who were just along for the ride,

The ones who didn’t get it.

One could not be a foot-washer without getting down on their knees on the hare floor. A foot-washer dealt with mud, smelly feet and humiliation. It was physically demanding and emotionally draining. Only the lowest of slaves were given the foot-washer job.

No one EVER volunteered for the job of foot-washer. Not kings. Not nobles. Not even blue collar workers wanted the job.

But Jesus did.

It wasn’t the character of the disciples but the love of the master that drove him to his knees to wash their feet. He served those who could never serve him back at that level.

It’s easy to serve those who like you. It’s beneficial to serve those who have the ability and resources to pay back. But those who have nothing to offer? Those who label and ridicule you? That’s another story.

Who is it you need to serve today? Maybe a text message? A phone call? Paying it forward at the coffee shop drive thru? Praying for a random stranger? Servant-hood isn’t easy. It can get messy. But it’s what Jesus would do.