Clean Hands to Get Dirty

John 13:3–15

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For He knew who was going to betray Him, and that was why He said not every one was clean. When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation (Psa 24:3–5).” Let us call unto God and pray daily, to be purified  by Christ. May we seek forgiveness always of and seek to stand pure and clean before His Majesty by the blood of Christ, not by any strength or discipline or superior virtue of our own, but empowered by His Spirit (~Zech 4:6). The LORD demonstrated to the Apostles that indeed, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt 20:28).” He knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God (v. 3). We are called to Christlikeness and His humility, secure in His divine and glorious status before God the Father, the Living Life writer says, “if Jesus, who calls upon His own authority, stoops low to take up the role of a servant, how much more should we as His followers be willing to serve others? All things are under His authority, but in love and humility, Jesus chooses to wash the feet of His own disciples and die a criminal’s death on the cross.” With clean hands and pure hearts, we ‘get our hands dirty’ as it were, not with sin, but in humble patient service to God’s work in this broken world; LORD, help us to be secure in our status as saved and justified, precious children of God, secure enough to serve like You did, and God has crowned You with glory, You are the master of love and existence, help us to be like You we praise You, all glory be to You; “because of that obedience, God lifted Him high and honored Him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that He is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father! (Phil 2:9–11).”