Dusty Feet
I am a total beach lover. At two weeks old, my parents took me to Wildwood Crest and I never stopped loving the beach (though, that is technically “the shore”). I love to swim and I love to play in the sand. To this day, I still am constantly digging holes with my feet as I read in my beach chair. That feeling of sand between my toes gives me life.
My parents taught me at a very young age the importance of rinsing the sand off my legs and feet before I go in the beachouse. I’ve spent a lot of time at the spigot rinsing the sand off. But it is always weird to me that no matter how much you let the water rinse over your feet, there is always some sand left in the skin along the edge of your foot and ankle. It’s always dark sand, not the light tan I see on the dunes. It comes off with scrubbing in the shower, but that sandy residue is quite annoying.
I encounter the sandy residue once a year for a week. I sometimes get dirty feet when I wear sandals and I’m walking on dusty paths or it starts to rain and I step into mud. But generally, I’d say I have clean feet because I wear socks and sneakers most days.
During biblical times…they lived in sandals. They walked the sandy shores and dusty paths every day.
I looked up the history of socks - it’s weird research, but apparently, I’m not the only person interested. Socks were a thing in biblical times, but because they were time consuming to make they remained a symbol of wealth into the 1800’s (basically for 3600 years). Now if you were my husband or father - they always need new socks (and usually right before our annual beach trip). So I must come from a wealthy family.
But I digress…
We know the people that Jesus hung around were not wealthy. His closest friends, His disciples, included. So for all intents and purposes of this story, everyone is in sandals year round.
We are currently nearing Easter so it is time to reflect on part of the “Easter story.” It’s one of my favorite parts - the beating and death isn’t really my thing. It’s the story of Passover. I want to share the story I shared in 2020 again here:
Disclaimer: This is just my interpretation of how Mark 14 and John 13 happened. Actual dialogue is cited below.
“Wow what a week!” He kicks a stone as he walks and reflects on his way to the house in the city Jesus told him to meet Him at.. “We started with a grand parade for Jesus, my Messiah, as we entered Jerusalem.” The stone goes off course and he kicks it back on the path.
As he kicks the stone and dust, he finally reaches the house and knocks on the door. A man answers the door.
“Uhh, yes, hi. I’m Peter. Two of my friends are here. There is, uh, I guess a guest room for us to eat Passover at.” He looks around nervously, “I think I’m at the right place.”
The man smiles and leads Peter to meet the others. He gets upstairs and hugs his brothers. He looks around and confirms the room is exactly how Jesus described it.
“Yet again, He doesn’t fail us,” he thought. The others show up and they set the table in anticipation of yet another good meal and chat together with Jesus. Then Jesus enters and a peace covers the room.
Peter is at the table with his closest friends. The feast is spread across the table. It’s a simple meal including unleavened bread and wine just like that in Scriptures (see Exodus 11-12). The energy in the room is beaming. He pats Matthew on the back and gives him a smile. He shoots a smile and wave across the table to Thomas. He leans over to Philip and cracks a joke.
Then he lifts his head. There is Jesus at the head of the table. They catch each other’s eye. Without thinking, a smile forms across his face. Jesus - his dear Friend and Teacher. And then He stands.
He raises the bread and He gives thanks (Luke 22:19). He continues with the cup. A joyous evening of thanksgiving, though, quickly gives way to grief and guilt.
Jesus declares this is your last meal together. After three years together, how could He just leave like that?
He says one of them would betray Him. Peter scans the room - to one side Matthew, the other Philip. He catches Thomas’s eye this time. He quickly looks over to Simon and Andrew. Everyone was shocked.
Then Jesus looks right at Peter: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
He must think, “Me? Simon Peter? Me?” But he responds:
“Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34)
Guilt stings his heart. His best friend, the man he endeared himself to, he is going to deny Him? No way.
Jesus stands up and takes off His outer garments. Standing in undergarments, vulnerable, He takes a towel and wraps it around Himself. He pours water into a basin and walks to each seat to wash the feet of His beloved.
This is something normally done before the meal to wash the dirt off feet. This is a task of a servant - a Gentile one at that. Peter watches Jesus take the feet of his friends and wash away the filth. He must have still be stinging with the truth of his future denial when Jesus came to him next.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (John 13:6-8).
Peter probably pulled his foot away from the basin and looked deeply into Jesus’ eyes. And that’s when Peter realized that his baptism made him new. He knew it took away the dirtiness of the past and that was only possible through the Lord. Jesus would wash away the dust on his feet, like He would wash away the sins of the world in a few hours.
Dusty feet - washed clean just like the ashes. What Jesus tells us is that our dusty feet don’t scare Him and neither does our sin. He knows how dirty you are. He knows how stinky your feet are. He knows it all - and He doesn’t walk away from it.
If you remember in the first blog of this series - God had already handled the enemy before He addressed Adam and Eve’s sin. Jesus already knows He has a handle on the enemy that night too. So He addresses His disciples. He washes away the day’s worth of dust (and probably animal droppings). And when He is done He washes away their anxieties:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled...Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:1, 27
