Believe: Christmas Devotions
Day 15: Dish Duty
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:14-15
After the holiday meal has been served and once hungry bellies are full it is nice to sit around the table and enjoy the company of your guests. After some time, you may begin to clear the dishes off the table to make room for dessert or play games. We all have different post holiday meal traditions that we love and treasure, however, there is one shared tradition between us all, the dishes. After a large meal with many guests, the dishes can pile high in the sink to the point of overflowing. Dish duty is a great task not treasured by many. Some may admit that it is their least favorite holiday tradition, however, despite despising the dishes a host may not allow a guest to wash a dish. They would insist they sit and enjoy the festivities.
It is unusual to see a guest on dish duty but it is unheard of to see a guest remove articles of clothing and wash the feet of others. One might suspect that this guest had too much wine or eggnog. But Jesus, Lord and Teacher, the highest guest of honor at every table lowered himself to the position of a servant and washed the feet of his disciples prior to enjoying his last meal. Jesus could’ve used this time to glorify himself and boast about his ministry success and all the plans to come but instead he chose to teach them a valuable lesson about status in the kingdom of God and the heart of our Father in heaven. Jesus taught them, through this expression of love, that whoever will humble themselves and serve others no matter the cost will be exalted to the highest position in the kingdom of heaven. That the heart of God is for us to love one another through good deeds and that we would be willing to sacrifice our comfort and security to help those who would never be able to repay us. As Jesus said, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Maybe dish duty isn’t so bad after all.
Matthew 19:30, Matthew 5:20, John 13:34
Wynter Kettlewell 