Humble Acceptance

“‘You will never wash my feet—ever!’ Peter said. Jesus replied, ‘If I don’t wash you, you will have no part with Me.’” John 13:8

It’s an awkward time of the year for me. My birthday. And, no, it’s not that I have trouble with being another year older. Actually, I sort of welcome that. Each year brings me more freedom to be who I really am. No, my awkwardness comes in having to accept gifts, greetings, and parties from those who love me. I know—lots of people thrill over the attention their birthdays bring, but I don’t. I dread it. So it makes me very happy that my birthday is close to Easter this year. I can combine my “party” with a much more important celebration and divert the attention from myself. But it will still be a difficult time for me.

I know I’m not the only one who has trouble accepting gifts. I have some friends who are just like me. Even when they are undergoing hard trials, they struggle to let others help. The offer of a meal or a ride has to be forced on them—although I know they deeply appreciate it. I know it, because I share their struggles. Some of us would simply rather not draw attention. Like proud two-year-olds, we’d prefer just to do it ourselves.

But that’s not the way of the cross. Peter, bless-his-heart-you-gotta-love-him, was just like me. He wanted to be the one to do for others. When he saw Jesus heading toward his big, dirty, smelly feet with a basin of water and a towel, he couldn’t handle it. No way would Jesus, his Teacher, his Master, his Messiah, wash his feet. It just wasn’t going to happen! But Jesus had a lesson for Peter to learn. A lesson of humility and acceptance. A lesson of grace. And when he heard that he had to submit to being served in order to have any part of Jesus, he surrendered completely. He said, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head” (John 13:9). I imagine Jesus grinned at his excess, shook his head a little, and started washing. As we say here in Tennessee, Peter was a mess!

And aren’t we all a mess? Haven’t we all tried to do it ourselves? And isn’t that what Easter is all about? Talk about having to accept a big gift. Take a look at the cross. It makes me shudder. That my Lord would take my place on the cross is hard to comprehend let alone accept. Unbearable pain and suffering in my name. Blood, sweat, and tears all poured out for me. Each drop a prism reflecting my sin and shame. Like Peter, I want to cry, “No! It’s too much, Jesus! Don’t do such a terrible thing for me!” But I know that without the cross, I will have no part in Him. It breaks my pride and humbles me beyond expression. I want to have Him more than I want to do it myself so, again like Peter, I say, “Wash all of me, Lord. Cover me with your blood—head to toe. Make me clean in You.”

How can I accept such a costly gift? How can I not? Jesus Himself suffered, died, and rose from the grave for me. And He did it for you, too. Will you accept His gift?

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