His Way...

I really admire Jesus in the Upper Room. The way he moved from person to person, gently washing the grime from their feet.

It was customary in those days, to wash the dust from the feet of travellers who came to rest in your home. Most people travelled on foot. Carriages and carrying beasts weren't commonly available to the average man. And the roads travelled were unsealed and dusty. Each step taken covered their sandled feet in puffs of dust. It was courteous to have a servant wash the feet of these travellers, so they could rest comfortably and enjoy the hospitality of the home.

Jesus did something amazing. He was the master. There was no servant. They were all weary travellers, but each disciple was unwilling to stoop lower than his contemporaries to take up the serving role and wash the dust from their feet. Maybe they looked a little uncomfortably amongst each other, wondering who would make the first move. But no one did. So Jesus did the unthinkable.

The master took the role of the servant. Taking off his outer robe, and wrapping a towel at his waist, he took the bowl filled with water, knelt before them, and began to wash their feet. They were all drumstruck. I imagine awkward shifting and silence. One by one they felt the love, contrasting vividly against their own act of self promotion, and they were deeply humbled. Peter was so horrified at the reversal of roles that he struggled to allow Jesus to do it for him at all!! Until Jesus told him he needed it to be a part of him, and then he begged for more!!

And then, there was Judas. He had been with Jesus' team throughout his ministry. He had been awed by what Jesus could do. He had felt the same love from him as each and every other disciple had. Yet Jesus knew that Judas would sell him to his death. And still he loved him. Still, he served him. Still, he washed his feet.

Sometimes I come to God frustrated with something that's happened. I can feel injured - real or perceived. I start to come up with ways to put up hedges - to take care of me! To protect myself against these slights that I feel shouldn't happen! I figure if I make boundaries, those injuries are less likely to occur. And maybe sometimes they are necessary. But you know - on the little things, maybe that's not such a great idea. Maybe those hedges create distance. Maybe self protecting can become isolating.

Jesus showed us something in this interaction with Judas. In this interaction with all of his disciples with whom he was beginning his kingdom on earth. He showed that living for self was not his kingdom's way! His was the way of loving service. Even to those who might cause harm. And there's something powerful about his way. Pride causes separation and division. His way melts, and brings healing.

Even though I know this, and want so much to echo him this way, my innate desire to defend my self still rises up. So each day, I come back, learn again who he is and where my heart wants to be. And pray again that his spirit - good, kind, gentle and true - rises up in me instead! And his love softens me. Dissolves my need to guard. Brings me again into a loving servant role with those around me.

My resolution for 2026 is to continue to come. Continue to heal. Continue to let his love fill me to overflowing to those around me. Continue to not honour self, but to honour him. And not build hedges. But to be vulnerable, serving in love. That is his way. And it is so honourably beautiful. I want my life to echo his.

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