–

This is the day that we remember Jesus’ Last Supper. It is also the time that he washed the disciples’ feet. The story goes like this (in John 13:1-17):

“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a basin, 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.

Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Humility is genius, and so needed by everyone– especially by our leaders. But I have been thinking that this action on his part is about something more than just exemplary meekness, thoughtfulness, and servant-leadership.  How are we to wash one another’s feet?

We are to follow Jesus’ example of seeing others the way he saw those around him.

Mary Baker Eddy wrote in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, “Jesus beheld… the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God’s own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick.”

That was him washing feet, as we are to do. We are to see and acknowledge the perfect man of God’s creating everywhere, instead of seeing sinning (i.e. in need of being cleansed or perfected) mortals.

In that same book, Mary Baker Eddy defines resurrection as, “Spiritualization of thought; a new and higher idea of immortality, or spiritual existence; material belief yielding to spiritual understanding.” 

This is foot washing too. Jesus saw himself and others so clearly from God’s perspective that the amazing result was his proof of life to be limitless and eternal. As we follow Jesus’ example of washing our own thought, as well as scrubbing clean our outlook of others, we collectively will be cleansed and reborn, fresh and new, pure and invincible. 

In this way the world shall be saved, and the kingdom of heaven will be experienced to be “at hand,” as promised.

–