Knowing Who You Are

“”The Father had put everything in Jesus’ control.
Jesus knew that.
He also knew that He had come from God and was going back to God.
So He got up from the table,
Removed His outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around His waist.
Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet
and dry them with the towel He had tied around His waist.”
John 13:3-5

Do you know who you are? . . . Who you truly are? In our world, there is quite a lot of focus
on self-discovery. Self-image. Self-worth. Human dignity. Coming to personal clarity about the answers to those questions is important. That clarity has an impact on how we choose to live out our lives.

Looking at Jesus’ example, though, throws a perspective that, in my mind, does not at all fit
human logic. In human thinking, someone who has “come from God” and “was going back to God” would be miles above and ahead of mere mortals. He would be far above human
intelligence, abilities, status and power. He would be the one being served . . .at the highest
levels.

But immediately following the statement of Who He was, what His power encompassed, and the future position He would hold, He walked away from His position, removed His human personal identity, and replaced it with a servant’s towel. He not only looked the part of a servant, but He did what a good servant would do. One by one. Taking the time. . . foot by dirty foot . . . wiping away the dust and dirt that gets between toes and in the nails and rough calluses of feet that have been walking on the dusty, dirty ground of this earth. The bowl of water is on the ground.

The foot-washer is kneeling on the ground in front of you. You are seeing the water become
cloudy and dirty from what is being removed from your feet. You are feeling the hands that are touching, holding, and wiping . . . even between those rough, calloused, dirty toes . . .

There is nothing pleasant nor simple about the process the “foot-washer” carries out.
But the Hands that are doing the work are such a beautiful Gift. Truly a tangible act of love and care.

I had an experience in the desert refugee camps that I will never forget. Totally exhausted, I
had sat down on the floor of the tent, leaning against a hard cushion propped against the “wall” of the tent, and fallen into a sound sleep. I remember slowly becoming aware of my foot being cradled in a gentle hand, and cool water being tenderly wiped across my foot…between my toes, ….around my nails. One foot . . . and then the other.

One of the women of our team was kneeling at my feet as I slept, with a basin of clean water and a soft cloth. As I slowly drifted back to awareness, the tender act of kindness and care was like nothing I had ever experienced before. It was too wonderful to protest. The harshness of the desert . . . the exhaustion of this world . . . all faded away as those gentle hands wiped away the evidence that clung to my skin.

It was a soft Kiss from Heaven to my soul. Jesus does that for us, if we let Him.
So grab a towel . . . and a basin of fresh water. Down on your knees . . . touch your world.