He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
– John 13:6-7 (NRSV)

So much of the relationship between Jesus and his disciples is representative of His relationship with all of us. In the scene described in John 13, Jesus takes on the position of servant and washes the feet of His disciples. They are, of course, stunned and horrified that He would lower Himself to this humiliating position; but as He explains to Peter, they will one day understand. Looking back on this story, it is so clear to us why Jesus did this, but imagine if you had been one of His disciples and He wanted to wash your feet. When I think about it, I am reminded of a very special moment I experienced once after a long weekend of intensive therapeutic treatment.

I had spent the weekend working through issues from my past with a group of ten other patients. There were three professionals involved in the weekend, one of which had been my counselor for the past three years of intensive therapy, both in groups and individual sessions. I had a great deal of respect for this man, and considered him to be somewhat of a “channel” to God for me. He had guided me to a place of healing that I truly did not believe would ever occur in my life. A part of me felt like I owed him my life. At the end of the weekend, the professionals entered the room where we all had gathered. They were each holding a bucket of warm water and a soft cloth. They were going to wash our hands, symbolizing a cleansing of the past. When my counselor approached me, I almost couldn’t bear it. As he kneeled down in front of me and took my hand in his to wash it, the tears flooded from my eyes. I wanted to protest, but I could not speak. A part of me felt I did not deserve to be treated with this much love and respect from someone so connected to God. Another part of me felt great joy over the humbleness of this man kneeling before me. It was a beautiful experience, one that didn’t sink in to my soul until many days later.

As I look back on that moment, I can see the significance of it in my life today. This person who I respected and put up on a pedestal of greatness was showing me that he was no better than me. He was sending me off from that weekend with a reminder to always remain humble and “right-sized” as I walk through life. Whether I am helping others or being helped, I am worth no more or no less than those around me. Like Jesus’s example to His disciples, my counselor was showing me that in order to be great, one must serve others. What I didn’t fully understand on that day, I completely grasp today.

When I take this story into the rest of my life, I recognize the greater value of what Jesus said to Peter at that moment: “You do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.” So often I am perplexed by what is going on around me – in this world and in my own life. I wonder what God could possibly be thinking. I wonder how God could ever use some things to His advantage. I wonder why I am still stuck in the same old job or still pinching pennies just to get by. I wonder why certain things happen in my life, when I don’t think they are what is best for me. And then I remember what Jesus said, “…later you will understand.” In other words, I don’t need to get it today. All I need to do today is allow Him to serve me and trust that what is happening, and what He is doing (or not doing) in my life and in this world is what is best.