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." – John 13:10

Today's Scripture Reading (December 28, 2020): John 13

I believe in "short lists," although I am willing to admit that I am not always good at it. The idea is that we need to keep our lives as current as possible with God and with others. Every night, I try to make it a practice to re-evaluate the day and note the places I could have done better. As well, where is it that I need to ask for God's forgiveness for the acts I have committed during that day? Do this every day, and the list never gets too long; therefore, "short lists." One of the side effects of keeping "short lists" is that you stay humble; you are continually reminded that you are far from perfect and that there is always room for improvement.

Hebrew society made a connection between physical cleanliness and spiritual cleanliness. They were continually washing their hands, not because it was a healthy way to live or a way to deal with a biological pandemic, but because they believed that there was a spiritual pandemic present in the society with which they needed to deal. So, they washed their hands, their way of keeping a "short list."

As the disciples show up to share in a Passover meal, Jesus does something unexpected. He doesn't ask them to wash their hands, making them spiritually clean. Jesus emphasizes their feet. Walking on dusty roads in sandals created dirty feet. Often, at a social gathering, water would be provided to wash the feet of those attending the group. Often a servant would wash the feet of the guests. If there wasn't a servant available, the guest with the lowest standing would usually take up the task. You can imagine the disciples gathering and seeing the water for the washing of feet and quietly trying to evaluate which one of them should pick up the water, wrap a towel around their waist, and begin the process of washing feet.

But before one of the Twelve could begin the process, Jesus took up the water and a towel and started the process of washing the feet of his friends. Some, confused, allow Jesus to wash their feet. But for Peter, it is too much. When Jesus comes to him to wash his feet, Peter refuses. It just isn't the rabbi's job to wash feet. One of them should be doing the washing.

Except that Jesus is not really washing their feet. He is making a point about their spirituality. It needs attention. Walking on the dusty streets makes their feet dirty, but living in this world tends to do the same things to our lives. Just like we need to wash our feet when we come inside, we also need to make sure that we are spiritually clean regularly; we need to become people of "short lists."

Peter goes the other way. Jesus, if you need to wash me so that I can have a part of you, then don't stop with my feet; wash all of me. But Jesus reminds him that if he is a person of short lists, it isn't all of him that needs attention, just his feet. And as we move through this world, it is not all of us that needs to be washed, only the dirty parts, the parts included in our daily "short lists."   

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: John 14