Washing Feet

Lucky, our crazy terrier, is very concerned about Honeybun's bent over ear. Nearly every time he walks by her, he stops, looks at her, and then begins vigorously licking that ear. She sighs, closes her eyes, and waits till he tires of this game, and then when he leaves, she scratches her now tickled face with her paw. Lately, after he finishes washing her ear, he begins to lick all over her face. She endures this attention patiently, and then when he leaves, rubs away the tickle again with both paws. This is all the more remarkable on Lucky's part since when we first brought Honeybun home two...or is it now three (!) years ago, she tried to kill him...repeatedly.

Every time I watch Lucky in his gentle ministrations to the dog that once wanted to drink his blood, I cannot help but think about how Jesus washed his disciples feet. He was about to go to the cross to die for the sins of all mankind, including those disciples. It is a remarkable act of forgiveness, a remarkable symbol of the cleansing power of His atoning sacrifice.

"You're a nice dog, Lucky," I tell him. He looks at me and thumps his tail, then comes over and begins licking my toes.

John 13: 8-17
"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." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.




Posted using BlogPress from my iPad