Allowing Jesus to Help Us

John 13:5-11 NIV

After that, he [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 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.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 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.”

Why would Peter say to Jesus, “You shall never wash my feet”? I always used to think it was about social dynamics. That, in Peter’s eyes, it would be inappropriate for Jesus to wash people's feet since Jesus had such esteem, status, and authority. I’m not ruling out that Peter was thinking this way, but I also think there’s a much deeper application to consider. 

As a child, I grew up with two loving parents. Being an adult now, my parents sometimes try to do things for me that they used to do when I was a child. And it feels very awkward and uncomfortable. My thinking goes: “I’m not a kid anymore! I can take care of myself! I’m mature and I’m supposed to be past this by now.” I don’t like to admit the areas in my life where I still need the help of someone older than me. I don’t like my weaknesses exposed.

This mentality is very often how we approach our relationship with God: “As a mature Christian, I’m not supposed to get offended. I’m not supposed to get jealous. I’m not supposed to be sinning that bad. I’m not supposed to still be upset by what happened to me.” 

And all the while, Jesus is offering to help us. Yet we don’t want him to. We try to suppress those sins, feelings, and weaknesses because we’re supposed to be “better than that”. Unfortunately, we are not better than that. We are broken, and we need Jesus. As such, we need to be upfront with God about where we are. If I’m jealous, I’m going to confess my jealousy. If I’m bitter, I’m going to confess my bitterness. If I have wrong priorities, I’m going to confess my idolatry. 

Of course, we are not meant to remain in our dysfunction. However, the first step toward healing is admitting we have a dysfunction. We need to lay down our sins, weaknesses, and hurts before Jesus and allow him to wash us! We need to allow Jesus to heal us! There’s no point in playing strong when we’re actually weak. There’s no point in lying to ourselves. Honesty is the starting point in moving toward repentance. 

Though Peter's body was mostly clean, he needed his feet washed by Jesus. Similarly, though we may know Christ and be saved, we still need Jesus to wash away our dirt and make us more like himself. Let us receive that healing grace now!

Here are a few Scriptures to meditate on:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:15-16)

“Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” (Jer. 17:14)

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)

May the Lord draw you more deeply to himself as you open yourself up to him! May you find deep cleansing and healing as he washes you with his mercy and love! In Jesus' name, Amen!