144 I Know How Peter Felt
Ignacio was a farmer worker in Honduras. He walked 3 miles barefoot from the farm to get to church service early Saturday morning. The church was holding communion that day, and Ignacio came just in time for the foot washing. He watched as other church goers took off their socks and shoes and have them briefly dipped in water then dried off quickly with a towel.
Ignacio paired up with a well-dressed gentleman. Ignacio washed the gentleman's feet first, then it was Ignacio's turn. After they prayed together a second time, Ignacio was expecting his feet to be quickly dipped into the water and the soles to be dried off. However, the gentleman started scrubbing all the dirt and grime off Ignacio's feet.
Ignacio was embarrassed and told the gentleman that this wasn't necessary. After all, Ignacio was barefoot unlike everyone else, and his feet were going to get all dirty again anyways. However, the gentleman smiled at Ignacio and ignored his protests. He kept cleaning Ignacio's feet.
Ignacio felt so ashamed that this well-dressed gentleman was stooping down to clean a lowly farm worker's feet. Ignacio thought to himself, this is so humiliating for this gentleman - he doesn't even know me!
As the water in the wash bowl turned muddy brown, Ignacio thought of Jesus and how he washed the disciples' feet. Ignacio started to cry as he started to realize the meaning behind that story. After a few minutes, Ignacio's feet were clean and dry. Ignacio hugged the gentleman and they prayed again once more. Ignacio prayed for forgiveness for his own pride.
Before today, foot washing was just a church ritual done Ignacio performed without much thought. Now Ignacio understood how Peter, a lowly fisherman 2000 years ago, felt when his dirty feet were washed by Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of mankind.
Recommended reading:
- John 13:3-17
