For several weeks, God has been laying it on my heart to hold a foot washing and anointing service in which all of our missionaries would wash and anoint the feet of our Mozambican leaders. The first and only time Jason and I had ever had the opportunity to participate in such a thing was when we were in Sri Lanka last year.
We decided to do this at our weekly leaders’ meeting on April 5th, the day after Easter Sunday. We kept it as a surprise, and when everyone arrived at the meeting and saw us setting up washing buckets some looked puzzled and others looked a little nervous. A few had only participated in a foot washing service once before, and some had never had this opportunity.
There is something so powerful and humbling both in the giving aspect and the receiving. I know how it transformed our lives, and I knew it would do the same to others. Our Mozambican leaders are so hospitable and respectful, and they have such wonderful servant hearts. But we wanted them to know that we came to serve them, not to be served by them.
We opened in prayer and Tielsen read the account from John 13 of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet:
He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. ….When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:4-7, 12-17)
As we took turns washing and anointing their feet, the rest of us prayed and prophesied over them. We missionaries then took turns washing each other’s feet along with the help of some of our Mozambican leaders. There were many hugs and many tears shared. It was such a wonderful time of true fellowship and breakthrough.
Afterwards, many of the leaders shared with us how it changed them and what it meant to them. One who shared was Pastor Luis. He does not currently hold a pastoral office, but he helps Calli and Joseph resolve school issues with our children on the base. Pastor Abel had invited Pastor Luis to this special meeting, not knowing himself what would take place, but just knowing that we wanted all leaders and ministry leaders present. Pastor Luis told us, “I didn’t understand. Why should I come to this meeting? I am not a leader.” He said he was glad that he did though, and that it really showed him that we are all to be leaders and we are all to be servants. He said he didn’t understand at first, but now he understands. Several others shared similar comments and explained how it touched and changed their hearts.
It’s so wonderful to see how God moves in our hearts, and how something as simple as washing each other’s feet can break yokes, tear down walls, increase humility and promote true equality. It’s an expression of love and servant-hood.
The purpose of being a Christian is to be like Christ…to be the light… sharing his joy, peace, and love, and uniting with others to do the same. We must not only learn from his example; we must walk as He walked. We must follow His example and actually do what He did. Jesus understood the life changing power that’s released through the simple act of washing each others’ feet.
“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”—John 13:15-17
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