Mike Paschall . com

The Hindes and Paschalls have a small group of people in Gvegas that we’ve met with a couple times. This is the official title of what we’re calling this “thing”: The Gathering (A random and spontaneous alternative to normal church). The slogan keeps morphing, so I doubt that’s the final product.

Anyway, this week we Gathered for communion and some foot-washing. We didn’t tell anyone about the foot-washing bit, so everyone was wigged out, wishing they’d gotten that pedicure over the weekend. Thinking through the preparations, it dawned on me that Jesus washed down and around. When He grabbed the towel and scrubbed on those guy’s missing nails, toe-jam and calloused heels, he did it to show them how he wanted them to prefer each other. Jesus didn’t wash up. He washed down and around. Jesus didn’t want them to turn around and wash his feet. He wanted them to wash each others feet. He wanted them to serve. He wanted them to prefer. He wanted them to honor and rejoice in each other. He desired that they approach and be willing to be approached. He wanted no breach among the brotherhood. He knew what they were going to face. He understood they would need each other.

Think about this and I’ll be done: Jesus sent a very personal message to the disciples. If you want to honor up… you must serve down and around. “To the least of these… you have done unto Me.” True spiritual authority gets a bigger thrill in watching you serve down and around.

-MDP-