God’s Word to You is John 13:3-17
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
This special time was brought to mind this week. May it bless you.
August 11, 2004
When I woke up this morning the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet was on my mind. It stayed there through breakfast. As we drove to our church it stayed in my head. I mentioned the story to Diane as we were riding and she understood. You see, our church has served so many. They have served all of us North Americans our translators and all those we meet. They are a great example of Christian servants. I had a vision in my head but was afraid I might startle or offend someone.
We arrived at our church and soon started passing out gifts to our translators, the nationals and to the pastor, his wife and family. We had fun for over an hour. There would be no going out today until after lunch and then only to do some shopping at a nearby town for some arts and crafts. I was amazed at how “my girls” kept coming up and giving me hugs and telling me how much they loved me. They were so pleased with each and every gift. I gave them several necklaces that Dawn had made and they couldn’t wait to put them on. Diane had been on my heart too and was wearing the one I had given her earlier. She is so wonderful to know. I wanted her to have something from Dawn and something to remember me by. We were having a blast and at one point Sara came up and gave me a page of Spiderman stickers from Venezuela. Hmm, I wonder how she knew I like Spidey. The most amazing thing was that she had drawn me a picture of Spidey!
It was so great sharing and talking and playing with everyone from the church. I went outside to the kitchen and gave all the ladies some utensils and towels that Dawn had bought for me to give them. They surely deserve much more for all they have done. I remember the smiles on their faces, and the hugs. They have been such sweet servants. In the mornings they are there making all the things we will need for lunch and the afternoons are filled with preparing for dinner and everything is made from scratch! Amazingly they always have a smile and tons of kindness for us. For some reason they even seem to enjoy laughing at me!
We had talked about having an informal service so each person could share some of what happened in his or her heart this week. When it was time we put the tables aside and pulled up chairs in a big circle. There were about thirty of us. The translators started sharing first. They all had praise for the church and for us. Some spoke of different encounters from the week, including our time at the lookout area. As I listened, teary eyed at some of the emotional testimonies, I kept getting a vision and voice in my head. “Go get a bowl of water and a towel”. But what if I embarrass someone? “Go get a bowl and a towel”. I struggled with it as the six translators shared. Then Aaron started speaking for the North Americans. I kept getting the voice and the vision. As he finished I knew I had to act.
I quietly got up and went outside to the kitchen and got the ladies to understand what I wanted only after grabbing a pot and towel and running some water myself. I went back inside and sat the bowl and towel on a table outside the circle.
Marian was just finishing her testimony. I felt bad I had missed it. She was crying very hard and I sat down and hugged her and she wept on my shoulder for a few moments. I am so going to miss her and her sister Sarah. Kelly then offered to speak and broke down while sharing. She too had felt God in this place and in the hearts of these people and applauded their servant hood. Sheesh, it was brought up again and not by me! Becca said she needed to go next to keep from crying too. It didn’t work. She has opened up so much this week. Sarah went after her. Then Diane looked at me and said she would go next. I think God was using her to prepare me.
Then there was one. And it was me. I stood up and told the group how much I loved them. I explained how on each trip God has taught me some particular lesson including obedience and trust and love. I explained that this trip I learned about servant hood. I told them I didn’t want to use words to show them how much I wanted to serve them so I asked them to take off their shoes and socks. They started to do so, some maybe just a little reluctantly. A few left their socks on. I went and got the bowl of water and towel and as I walked back into the circle I told them I wanted to wash their feet and say a prayer for each one as I did. I got on my knees and started my blessing with Mircoles. She is the wife of Francesco, who has driven us everywhere all week long. Mircoles has been one of those who has opened up so much, shared with me, served me food and worshiped with me. Tears were running down her face as I washed her foot. I can only describe what happened next in words that could never really do justice to the moment. I could feel the Holy Spirit in me. Running through me. All around me. I carefully took each foot and held it firmly but gently and washed and dried it. After I washed the second foot I said a silent prayer thanking God for her and asking Him to bless her. It seemed as if God knew my prayer before I thought it. I felt connected straight to God.
Diane started reading from John the whole story of how Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. Each person wept as I touched his or her feet. Many were smiling and crying and we shared so much when they looked at me. There was such a connection to me with each one through the Holy Spirit. I sobbed and shook and crawled from one to the next. When I held Marian’s foot she wept hard and I was shaking from the nearness of the Spirit. She kissed me on my forehead. Aaron was next. He had said he wouldn’t cry today, but I saw tears in his eyes and he whispered that he had never felt anything like this and thanked me.
Someone had started playing a guitar after Diane had finished reading and they were singing Spanish Christian songs. I wasn’t halfway yet. Geraldo, one of the translators, wept and shook as I washed his feet and kept saying “Oh my friend” over and over. I felt so much power and was shaking with it and sweating and sobbing. My legs had started to hurt and my knees were raw from the rough carpet. The pastor and his wife and son were all in a row and I felt God touching each of us and heard pastor praying with me.
Finally I came to Becca and she completely broke me. I finished her second foot and prayed. She reached down and hugged me telling me she loved me and how much it had meant to her to be part of my team this week. I shook hard and continued my tears. Then it was Kelly’s turn to break me as she hugged me and nurtured and encouraged me with her words. On and on I went, finally to Diane who also hugged me and blessed me. I was almost done. My knees were getting weak. I was sweating and still sobbing and shaking. I still felt the Holy Spirit working in me, through me, breaking my heart with the love of our God. After what must have been almost an hour I reached the last set of feet. A child’s feet. Mircoles daughter had come and sat next to her some time after I had started. All I could think of were the words of Jesus saying come to him like a child.
My legs were shaking as I weakly got up, spent physically and emotionally. I slowly went to my chair, my eyes full of tears. I sat the bowl and towel on the floor and collapsed. I had served my new family and shown them my love. I felt so full yet so humbled. Marian hugged me and suddenly pastor was in front of me with a bowl of water and a towel. I remember crying “Oh no, oh no” as he started taking my shoes off with his one hand. I sobbed harder than before. I felt like I could burst. I’d never felt God’s presence like this. My feet were washed and I have no idea how many were laying hands on me and praying for me. They were hugging and kissing me. I remember Sara and Marian and Aaron, but was blinded by tears. When he finished, the pastor prayed over me. He said he wanted to sprinkle me with the water, not a baptism but an anointment, a bonding of this special time. He did it not only for me but for each one of us. Putting the bowl down, he picked up the paperwork with all the one hundred and twenty-nine professions of faith from this week and sat them in a pile and kneeling with his head on them he prayed. We all knelt and prayed for him and those new children of Christ. There was so much power here. So much of God here. I was broken like I’ve never been broken before.
Thank you Lord.
Thank you Lord.
Afterward we seemed so close, so much closer. I was so … filled. I felt so close to God. Words could never express the feeling, the connection, the knowing how it feels to do God’s will. I never want to lose this closeness.
in His service,
Chuck
me n’ God love ya