An Act of Love

I sat in a roomful of women and was amazed at what God had done in 48 hours. We worshipped, we learned, we prayed, we laughed, and we cried together. As I saw the lead group of women come into the room carrying bowls, towels, and pitchers of water, fear started to rise within me. I hope they are not going to do what I think they are going to do. As I saw the first leader get on her knees in front of the first woman in line, I could see that I was not alone in my thoughts.

She carefully removed the woman’s shoes and socks and began washing her feet and praying over her. As the leaders came closer and closer to me, I became extremely uncomfortable, and I thought about going for an extended bathroom break. No! They can’t wash my feet! My feet are dirty, and they have been sweating in my shoes all day. They probably don’t smell good either. Right as I was about to get up and disappear until it was over, I saw one of the leaders smile at me and head in my direction.

I could not look at her and tears started to fall down my cheeks. She gently wiped them away and lifted my chin up. “Jessica, Jesus loves you so very much.” She said, “And I do too.” As she removed my shoes and socks, tears kept falling. While she washed my feet, the fear was replaced with perfect peace and an awareness of the presence of God. That was a big moment of healing for me. This woman had only just met me, and yet, when she said she loved me, I knew it was true.

I can only imagine what it must have been like for the disciples when they saw Jesus take the position of a servant and begin to wash their feet. As the Son of God, Jesus was fully man, but also fully God, which means, he knew absolutely everything about them. Jesus knew who they had been before they started following Him. He knew who they had become under His care and leadership, and He knew who they would become. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and He knew that Peter would deny Him, and yet He still chose to wash their feet because He loved them.

Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. … "A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you." For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean."  (John 13:3-5, 10-11 NLT)

Sometimes, we forget that Jesus had a choice. He chose to wash the feet of those who would betray Him and deny Him, and He chose to die on the cross as a payment for my sins and for your sins. He chose, not out of obligation, but out of love.

Father God, Your love for me is far greater than I can imagine. You love me with an everlasting love that will never fade away. No one can take Your love away from me. Your love for me never changes because You never change. You know every detail about my life, and You still choose to love me. Lord, let Your perfect love wash over me and help me to rest in knowing that You had a choice, and yet, You still chose me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.