Too gross.

Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” John 13:8

About every 3-6 months I get this amazing privilege of getting a pedicure. It’s an amazing act of self-care, to let someone else clean up my feet and toenails. My favorite part is when they get the scrubber and rub off the old skin and you can see it falling like snow. I delight in this absolutely gross and disgusting moment. I can’t even think about putting my feet back on the towel. Then they take their tools and clean out my toenail cuticles. The gunk just collects around the nail in a way I never realized until they start cleaning them. Instantly I feel a sense of freedom in my feet like they weigh less or something.

It’s one thing to have a stranger who you are paying to do this service. The idea that someone close to me would leave me feeling uncomfortable. A friend seeing my unflattering, skin-calloused feet and then getting their hands dirty to clean them is too vulnerable. How could I let someone I respect wash my feet—too gross!

I completely relate to Peter’s reaction to Jesus’ request to wash his feet in John 13:8:

Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

As uncomfortable as it feels we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable with Jesus. To let him into the secrets of heart so he can wash away the stain of our own sin away, as well as the offense and unforgiveness we hold onto from the world’s sins on our hearts.

Let this also be our practice with others…

This practice with Jesus is of great importance, in addition, Jesus goes on to say in John 13:14

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

How have you let your close friends into the secrets of your heart? It is a hard thing to do, to lay your life open before those who you love and respect. However, I will say that when we choose to be vulnerable with others a bond forms that cannot easily be broken (Ecc 2:14). We are called to be Jesus’ disciples, to serve Christ, but to also serve one another.

The trust required for such actions is often missing in relationships. How will we know this person will still like me afterward? What if my sin is so shameful that I am rejected from the community with whom I desire to have this strong bond?

Sources:

https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6051-feet-washing-of