Men of the Towel and the Basin

“…you must never forget that you belong to the community of the towel and the basin.” Crawford Loritts

Hey Men of Belvedere,

I had a whole email written to send out but this morning I scrapped it (hence getting this out a day late). I’m currently going through the second half of the book of John with my Discipleship Group and I continue to dwell on what Jesus did in John 13. Jesus washing his disciple’s feet is not a new story to most, but the heart of it may be.

At the time, most travel was done by foot and on dirt “roads.” With leather strap sandals being the fashion statement of the time, feet got dirty. Foot washing was a common act of hospitality, but commonly assigned to Gentile slaves, women, children, or the lowest-ranking servant in the household. Even Jewish servants were generally exempt from it.

For this meal, the disciples and Jesus enter the room. No servant is present. No disciple volunteers. Everyone probably knows the task needs to be done, but nobody wants to take the lowest position. In his Gospel, Luke tells us that the disciples were arguing about which of them was the greatest during this meal. Their minds were occupied with rank and status.

But Jesus stands up. He removes His outer garment. He grabs a towel. He takes a basin. He begins washing feet.

To readers, this feels sentimental. To the disciples, it would have been shocking.

He takes the position of a servant. He lowers Himself voluntarily. He washes the feet of men who cannot repay Him. He serves the very men who will betray, deny, and abandon Him.

The towel and basin become a preview of the cross and a blueprint for manhood.

The idea of biblical masculinity is becoming such a buzz word, and rightfully so. But I can’t help but wonder if all the ideas that come with that theme are irrelevant until we master the knelt position with a bowl of water in front of us and are willing to serve.

In a world that tells us to wring ourselves out for a platform, a promotion, or a position, Jesus teaches us to wring out a towel and serve others. To make ourselves less than and lower than those around us. The men who most resemble Jesus are rarely the loudest, wealthiest, or most visible. They are the ones willing to abandon an ego and submit to what Jesus is calling them to.

Everyone wants a seat at the table. Few will pick up the towel.

Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. Luke 22:25-27

Originally published at warren.church.