Cleaning FEET

Sunday Teaching

Jul 20

The full video of this teaching is available at the bottom of this post and this link.

I encourage you to begin this article by first reading John 13:1-17

TIRO THE FOOT WASHER

To grasp the shock of this story, imagine with me a foot washer named Tiro, representing the countless real individuals who performed this task in the First Century Roman Empire. Tiro woke up to the familiar sounds of early morning life in Jerusalem in A.D. 30—roosters crowing, merchants setting up stalls, the soft clamor of a city coming alive. Like many others of his status, he knew his day would be spent close to the ground, in the literal sense, because he was a foot washer at the bathhouse his master owned near the city center.

Foot washing in Tiro's world wasn't just a chore but a necessity. People walked everywhere, often barefoot or in simple sandals, on roads shared with animals. The dust, garbage, less pleasant animal fluids, and squishy substances are all mixed to coat their feet by the end of the day. Thus the reason foot washing was essential for entering homes, inns, and bathhouses. Heck, even for sitting down to relax without the stench of the street on your feet. But here's the catch: this task is not something just anyone would do. No, it falls to those at the bottom of the social ladder—slaves, servants, and the poorest of the poor.

Tiro faced each day with a resigned acceptance of his lot in life. He was practically invisible, his presence rarely acknowledged by those walking on the very feet he washed. People seldom looked him in the eye, and when they did, it was with a mix of pity and disdain. In this world, social status was everything, and foot washers were firmly placed at the bottom rung.

At the end of the day, Tiro trudged to the servants' quarters and plopped down on his makeshift, wood-slat cot in the corner, every muscle aching. The day had been a blur of dirty feet, cold water, and rough towels. His hands, raw and cracked, were a cruel reminder of his place in the world. The prospect of waking up to another day of washing feet filled him with a deep, gnawing dread. The years stretched before him, a seemingly endless cycle of servitude and invisibility.

AT DINNER WITH JESUS

While Tiro's story gives us a glimpse into the life of a foot washer, let's shift to a different scene—a room in Jerusalem where the disciples gathered around their Teacher before an important meal. They had been with Him for several years, seen Him perform miracles, heard His teachings, and witnessed His authority over nature and evil spirits. They had also seen indentured servants their entire lives, slaves like Tiro, forced to wash feet. Now, try to imagine the scene in John 13:4.

Jesus got up from the table as they waited for the meal. The disciples watched in growing confusion as He shrugged off His well-worn robe, then reached for a rough, plain linen towel and carefully tied it around His waist. Then, He grabbed a clay basin, its surface rough and unpolished, and poured the water, the splash cutting through the silence. Their brows furrowed, minds confused. Here was their Teacher, their Rabbi, down on His knees, ready to wash their feet like a servant, like the lowest of the low.

The room was thick with unspoken questions. Andrew's mind flashed back to the dusty roads they had traveled, the filth that clung to their feet. He knew what foot washing meant—sure, it was a sign of welcome and hospitality, but it was also the lowest chore around. "Is this another lesson?" he wondered. "What's He trying to show us now?"

Bartholomew's eyes widened in disbelief. "What is He doing?" he thought. "This is our Rabbi, not a slave."

I can imagine Thaddeus feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. He had always known Jesus to break societal norms and challenge their understanding of power and leadership, but this? This was different. It was humbling and utterly shocking. "How can He, the one who commands storms and heals the sick, stoop to such a demeaning role?"

We don’t have to imagine what Peter thought!

When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.”

Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!”

Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”

“Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!” John 13:6-9 (The Message)

BRIEF ASIDE

I need to share an important side note with you regarding this teaching article. This story has so many theological layers I could dive into. I mean, we could talk about how Jesus' love and humility shine through, lowering Himself to show deep care for His disciples. Or we could explore the powerful symbolism of spiritual cleansing, reminding us of our need for purification. There's also the heavy foreshadowing of Judas' betrayal, a gut-wrenching lesson on loyalty, and the heartache of being let down. And let's not forget the setup for the new commandment of love—Jesus telling us to love one another just as He has loved us. So many angles, but today, for the sake of time, let's only zoom in on the serving aspect.

WHY FOOT WASHING

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. John 13:12-17 (NLT)

Jesus didn't wash His disciples' feet just to encourage them to be nice to one another. No, His act was far deeper, far more revolutionary. Picture this: the Messiah, the King, kneeling down and doing the work of a servant. Why? Because He was setting the stage for something much bigger. His goal wasn't just a one-time display of humility, but a blueprint for how His mission would carry on.

Oh, and you'll be glad to know, Jesus wasn’t laying down a prescriptive command that we have to include foot-washing rituals in our church services (not that anything is wrong with that ;-)).

Jesus redefined what it meant to lead, to be great, to be part of His Kingdom. It's not about climbing to the top; it's about stooping low, meeting needs, and spreading love in the most tangible ways. Jesus was saying, "This is one of the ways you change the world with the Gospel—one act of humble service at a time."

Jesus knew He was leaving soon, and these people, His disciples, were the ones who would carry the torch. They were to move into the world with a radical new mindset—not to be served, but to serve. Serving God, serving each other, and serving everyone they met with the message of salvation. It was about embedding in them the core of His teaching: true greatness in the Kingdom of God is found in selfless service.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE

I know selfless acts of service when I see them. On Wednesday, I stepped out of my office between meetings. I saw our Community Meal in progress—a hot meal and essentials pantry for county residents dealing with food insecurity. What immediately caught my eye was a family serving whom I had met just a few weeks ago on their first Sunday at Newstart! Let me explain why this stood out to me.

I don't know how or where they learned about the opportunity to serve. But clearly, they had. That means someone in the family, most likely mom or dad, said, "We are going to sign up to serve at the Community Meal at Newstart." Maybe the two kids were excited about it and ready to go! Or maybe, like many teens, they complained and wanted to stay home to watch YouTube and scroll TikTok. I don't know. But what I do know is that mom and dad are demonstrating that serving is a priority for their family. There are so many other things that family could have done on that beautiful 75-degree, sunny Wednesday. Still, they came early, served, and stayed late to clean up, all to participate in meeting the needs of people.

I could go on for hours, just telling you incredible stories of amazing people who serve selflessly, hearts transformed by the call of Jesus—not to be served, but to serve. Our church is chock-full of these incredible souls. Seriously, we are bursting at the seams with people who give their time, energy, and love, all in the name of Jesus. But, I’m not going to expound on that further because I want to shift our closing focus to those here who have not yet experienced the beauty of a complete lifestyle of selfless serving to advance the Gospel.

WHAT CLOGS THE HEART OF SERVICE

Did you know that selfless service comes naturally to only about 10% of people? If you've ever raised or worked with teens, you know this is spot-on. This means that 90% of us who accept Christ must submit to a spiritual renewal led by the Holy Spirit for service to become a way of life. Has it become a way of life for you? How often is someone shocked by your humble and selfless act of service?

During my 25 years of pastoral ministry and witnessing hundreds of lives, including my own, transformed from selfish to selfless, I've identified two key obstacles that clog the arteries to the heart of service: a perspective and an attitude. With God's help, let's clear away these blockages together.

First, there's the perspective that "I don't have enough time." Our schedules are packed, and the idea of adding something else feels overwhelming. But what if we shifted our perspective? What if, instead of seeing serving as another task to cram into our day, we saw everything on our schedule as a potential opportunity to selflessly serve others? Imagine this: every errand, every meeting, every school pickup, or grocery run is a chance to look for ways to serve. It's not about adding more to our to-do list; it's about changing our perspective. Suddenly, your busy schedule becomes a canvas for acts of kindness, service, and opportunities to share Jesus.

Another thing regarding our schedules: if we're honest, most of our calendars are packed with things that build our own lives, wealth, and entertainment. And that's probably true for 90% of us for whom serving doesn't come naturally. But here's the thing—we need to make some changes. We've got to clear out some of that clutter to make room for the things that truly matter. Serving, worship, community, prayer, Bible study—these are the things that feed our souls and align our lives with Jesus. It's about creating space for what really counts. So yeah, inventory your schedule, and you may want to drop some stuff you enjoy to replace it with something you have yet to discover how much you will truly enjoy—serving!

The second blockage is an attitude of self-preservation. We indirectly think, "If I give too much, will there be enough left for me?" This mindset keeps us locked in a cycle of scarcity with our time, emotions, and resources. But Jesus flips this on its head. He shows us that when we step out in faith and give selflessly, we tap into an abundance we never knew existed. It's not about depleting ourselves; it's about trusting that God will provide exactly what we need when we need it. Self-preservation is an attitude that leads to loneliness. You'll find that giving brings so much more—peace, joy, and a deeper connection with others and God.

But Greg, what about balance? Sure, in that 10% for whom selfless serving comes naturally, there's maybe 2% who need to dial it back and find some balance. But here's the thing—in my experience, those folks never see it themselves. Someone else has to point it out for them. So, if you're even asking the question, it's probably not you! Most Christians I know who are stressed by their schedules are over-entertained and under-serving. Selfless serving is one of the best ways to bring a balanced perspective to your life and find peace in your schedule!

So, where do you find yourself in this teaching? Are you, like the disciples, shocked and confused by the call of Jesus to serve selflessly? Are you stuck in the mindset of “I don’t have enough time”? Is your schedule packed with things that build your own life but leave little room for serving? What can you clear out to make space for acts of kindness and opportunities to share Jesus? Are you holding on to an attitude of self-preservation, worried about giving too much? How can you step out in faith and trust that God will provide? What will it look like for you to embrace a life of selfless serving?

Here is a devotional prayer I’ve written for you as you continue to grow in this area of your Christian life.

Jesus, I come to You today with an open heart, ready to be transformed. I confess that my schedule and life are often filled with things that build my own comfort, wealth, and entertainment. Help me see through Your eyes, recognizing every moment as an opportunity to serve others. Shift my perspective, Lord. Clear away the clutter and make space in my heart for acts of kindness, service, and love.

I surrender my fears and my attitude of self-preservation. Teach me to trust in Your abundance, believing that when I give selflessly, You will provide all I need. Show me how to balance my life not with more entertainment but with meaningful service that brings joy, peace, and connection.

Jesus, I want to follow Your example, to stoop low and meet the needs of those around me. Help me embrace this call to selfless serving, to carry Your torch into the world. Let my life reflect Your love and humility, changing the world one act of service at a time.

In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

Greg McNichols