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May 17, 2024 06:00am

Beyond Words: The Time for Action

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The time for words has passed.

November 18.

The conversations had ended. No more talks back and forth, jokes we would chuckle at together, or even eye rolls from something we had said. It had been that way for just a few days. We still talked with him, he just didn’t respond. We knew the time was drawing near for Larry to go home.

I don’t remember what everyone else was doing. But I had a little time with my father in-law alone. I wanted to get him all spruced up for Noma. I took a warm cloth and bowl of hot water and began to wash his hair. If you knew Larry, you know how particular he was about his hair.

I washed his hands, his arms, his neck. And took some of his favorite cologne and put a few dabs on his neck.

I went to the foot of the bed and lifted the covers. I knew the time for words had past. I still talked to him, not knowing if he could hear me or not, and told him I loved him and was honored to be his daughter. But I knew I needed to show him.

I took the warm water and began to wash his feet. Immediately, I was taken back to the passage of scripture where Mary kneels at the feet of Jesus and washes His feet with her tears and her hair. And then I remembered another similar account, but this time, the Lord Himself was the one washing feet.

John 13:3

“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 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.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 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?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 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.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

Washing feet. What does that mean? What does that signify?

Look at what the time was like then. The roads and streets were all dusty and sandy. There wasn’t pavement or sidewalks. The roads were filled with horses, donkeys and livestock, and of course what they left behind. Shoes for most people were merely sandals, barely covering their feet. So, you can imagine how filthy a person’s feet would have been.

When someone entered a home, typically a slave would wash their feet. Especially if it was a dignified guest or nobleman. Jewish people considered feet to be so disgusting that the act of washing them would be the lowliest, demeaning job anyone could have. This is why they made slaves do it.

But in this case, no one had washed Jesus’ feet. He had been with these disciples for 3 years, teaching them about being a servant to others, loving them, and what a life looked like that honored God.

He knew the time for words had passed. He would show them what it meant to serve. He rose, clothed Himself as a slave would have, and knelt to wash their feet.

It was the most honorable, humble act He could demonstrate for His disciples.

That is, until He gave His life on the cross for all mankind. (Romans 5:8)

With the water put away, I dried his feet and warmed a little lotion in my hands before applying it. The tears never stopped. I hoped he could see, could feel that this was the best thing I could think of to honor him. For his love, his service to his family, to his service to the ministry.

He went home just 2 days later.

Are we serving like Christ? It’s a simple yet thought provoking question. Let us do as He has done.