Over the years, I have heard many pastors elaborate on the various kinds of Greek words that can be translated as our English word, “love”, and that of all these, the love of God is “agape”, love. Agape is not a selfish human love, that loves only if it is reciprocated. Nor is it a familial exclusive love, as wonderful as that is, because Jesus tells us that God loves in a way that He sends the rain on both the good and the bad. Those who hate Him, receive the same sunshine, smell the same flowers and breath the same air. But Jesus knowing that we needed something more than just an accurate definition, showed us His love in a strange and unique way.

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. 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. John 13:2-4

Perhaps what impresses me most in this story, is that Jesus washed the feet of friends who would soon run away and hide. He washed the feet of Peter, who would deny Him, and of Thomas who would doubt Him and even of Judas who was about to betray Him. And when Jesus had finished showing us His foot-washing kind of love, He gave a command.

 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. John 13:14

So, though we should be doing this all year round, at least we could begin learning during Lent, this foot-washing kind of love. When we return from running away doubting and denying, and take towels and basins, and humbly kneel down, let’s begin washing the feet of all kinds of other people, just as Jesus has washed ours.