They Gave Me A Towel

 “Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:6-8 (NKJV)

I can clearly remember the day when I interviewed Tito. He wasn’t dressed in Dockers and a Polo shirt like some of the others but during the process I noticed something different about him. I showed him around the facility I run and asked him if he had any questions for me. He gave me the usual “When can I start? And “How many days a week do we work?” and then told me he needs Sundays off to attend church. Since then conversation with Tito has always been on Calvary’s level ground.

One morning at work I found myself crumbling within myself then with-out myself over a growing pile of cardboard trash that had been left in disarray over by the machine that Tito operates. We both spoke aloud about the lack of consideration some of my workers have towards our forklift operators and then WHAM a thought….”5 ½ years of night school to get my LBC certificate (Lancaster Bible College) and this is all I do with it.” And just as fast as that was beginning to settle in my spirit yet another thought comes into my disobedient head… “Yo idiot they gave you a towel with that certificate.”

And on that towel is the following printed words, “Christ…our example of servanthood. John 13:3-17” Then I found myself saying out loud, “Forgive me father for I have sinned!” I look over at Tito and I notice him smiling and then giving me that “There ya go” nod. You see, I can get like Peter at times, you know, obstinate and self-righteous. During this dialogue with Jesus, Peter starts off with modesty but, hey c’mon…this is THE Messiah. He doesn’t wash feet; He heals the sick and is a teacher to His people. Peter should’ve been content with the Savior’s reply, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

Just as that good woman (Lu. 7:38) showed her love to Christ by washing his feet and wiping them, Christ manifested his love to His disciple’s by washing their feet. And even though He was getting ready to give the world the ultimate example of sacrifice and head into heavens glory, He was willing to humble Himself. Jesus Christ would confirm a promise that He made, “Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.” (Luke 12:37) Jesus Christ would honor His disciples by surprising them that The LORD would serve His servants.

Just because it has taken me a period of time to obtain a position of authority doesn’t mean I get to be selective on how I am to serve. Sometimes I have to be content with the fact that YHVH has already ordained this to happen and that I get the privilege to serve in the first place. I could be in place where the salt I think I speak is being trampled on, the light I think I shine is being covered by a basket and the city on a hill that I think I am is just a tent on a dung heap…or in this case a cardboard trash pile!! Guess there is still much in my wicked heart that has to come out. What a wretched man I can be. Who can save me from this body of death? Praise be to God…through Jesus Christ our Lord! – Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 107-109; Galatians 6

Quote of the day: “You can write it down as fact: no matter what a man does, no matter how successful he seems to be in any field, if the Holy Spirit is not the chief energizer of his activity, it will all fall apart when he dies.”—A.W.Tozer

Verse to Memorize: You are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are truth. Concerning your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever. Psalm 119:151-152