Issues of Intimacy

Note: This discussion focuses on two unusual encounters with Jesus in the gospel of Luke, Chapter 7 and the gospel of John, Chapter 13.


Beyond Courtesy


In the ancient world of the Roman Empire, most travel by the common folk was done in short distances over well-travelled and dusty roads. Animals were primarily used for carrying supplies and equipment, not people. Because sandals were worn in those days, the washing of one's feet was a common practice when entering a dwelling. Hosts who were more affluent hired servants to carry out the menial task of foot-washing for their invited guests.

In two very different situations found in the New Testament, we find Jesus addressing the ancient custom of foot-washing only to discover the lessons learned had nothing to do with hygiene or etiquette. In Luke 7, 36-50 (NIV), Jesus was reclining (as an invited guest) in the dwelling of a Pharisee, when an extraordinary thing happened. The passage reads as follows:

'Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." '

In the context of foot-washing, Jesus used the humility and contrition of the sinful woman to expose the arrogance and ingratitude of the self-righteous Pharisee. The sinful woman's recognition of her sins and her willingness to humble herself before Jesus with an intimate offering was more pleasing to God than the formality of the Pharisee's invitation to dinner. For as Jesus pointed out to the Pharisee, the host had not really treated Jesus with the courtesy normally afforded a guest of honor. In fact (through the parable cited by Jesus), the Pharisee could be characterized as an ingrate in relation to God's grace and forgiveness of the Pharisee's sins.

And by their actions, both the Pharisee and the woman demonstrated the motives of the heart, which was what God examines in each sinner constantly. Where the Pharisee relied upon custom and ritual, he demonstrated complacency, mediocrity, and bad habit. His actions and behaviors required little or no effort beyond going through the motions of outward appearances. However, the sinful woman ignored protocol, custom, social status, and risked being ostracized for the chance to be closer to God and demonstrate her desire for mercy and forgiveness. The passage implies that in her utter poverty and station in life (as well as in spirit), the sinful woman was willing to sacrifice the very best perfume she could afford in an offering of genuine affection toward God. Jesus' observations demonstrated God's heart in the matter. In fact, God was keenly aware of the motives of both sinners in their respective actions.

In the second incident of foot-washing, in the last moments with his disciples (before being arrested), Jesus went beyond courtesy by humbling himself before his friends and becoming a servant and washing their feet. We read in John 13, 1-17, the following:

' It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he 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, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his 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. I tell you the truth, 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."'

In this final lesson to his closest followers (before his crucifixion), Jesus demonstrated the true meaning of ministry: service to others. For in his teachings and travels, Jesus reiterated his own mission and earthly role had been to serve his Father's will by serving mankind. And by humbling himself before men, Jesus had pleased God and fulfilled the will of God, even to the point of his own death.

If God, through His Son Jesus, was willing to humble Himself before mankind in order to save sinners from the eternal consequences of sin, then what excuse will sinners have before God in eternity, if they have not humbled themselves before Him? The answer is more than a formality, a custom, or courtesy. As Jesus pointed out to the Pharisee, the attitude of the sinner toward God dictates the response of God toward the sinner. Religion in this context must move beyond the formality of ritual and custom to the intimacy of relationship. God does not desire a token of your esteem, a meaningless offering, or a matter of courtesy from you.

God desires an intimate relationship with you.

(copyright 2009, Gregory Allen Doyle)