Accountability

John 13:15
15 “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Today it struck me. What was the example that Jesus was setting for His disciples? Was it that the Master is to be the servant? Surely this is the truth, but it’s surface truth. What Jesus was doing was completely beneath Him as a Rabbi, and certainly as the Son of God, but He chose to do it anyway. He received some push-back from His disciples, but nonetheless He washed their feet.

I think it’s safe to say that any doctrine that preaches Jesus wanted us to learn a valuable lesson about service is accurate. I think that the lesson taught about no one being greater than the least is true as well. But I think that there is more to this than just the simple physical act of washing feet. Just before bending down to wash His disciples’ feet, Jesus spoke to the 12 about the need to be clean. He first spoke in physical terms: Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean...” John 13:10(a) This was typical of the Christ, talking in easy to understand terms so that everyone would understand and get a clear mental picture. He then, halfway through His thought, switches to the spiritual realm: “...and you are clean, though not every one of you.” John 13:10(b)

Of course we all know that He was referring to Judas who was going to go off and betray Him that evening, but why the connection between foot washing, total cleanliness, and spirituality? Why did He link these together?

I think that a lesson to be taken from Jesus is this: we are to hold one another accountable. Jesus reminded the disciples first that they were clean; they only needed their feet dusted off. This was true; they were walking on dusty roads. His message is hidden, though. We are all made clean by His blood that was spilled on the cross. Sometimes, though, we’re going to get our feet dirty. It’s not going to change our eternal destination or whether God loves us more or less. It’s just dust on our feet. Jesus was expressing to us that we have a responsibility to each other, as believers, to wash one another’s feet. We aren’t just to physically serve each other and our community, but we are called to hold each other accountable. When a brother or sister in Christ steps in the dirt, we have a responsibility, a command, from Christ to wash his or her feet.

Note that Jesus did not make His disciples feel dirty because their feet were dirty. In fact, He told them they were clean, they just need to be dusted off. We need to be Christ-like in our efforts to hold one another accountable. First we need to remind each other that we are CLEAN and righteous in Christ. Then we can point out that some feet need to be washed!