The Bucket And The Cup

Every mother can attest to the fact that a child will never throw up in the bathroom.
They will usually throw up inches before the threshold.
Those few inches are the difference between the rug and the tile floor.
Those few inches mean everything.

Children run quickly to the dinner table or to a favorite aisle in the toy store.
However, children never seem to know they are going to get sick until it is too late.
It’s not their fault; sometimes that sickness comes on too quickly.
It makes an interesting morning or middle of the night for the mother.

A child getting sick in the car is quite an experience.
We have all been there, done that.
We used to have a station wagon with a “way back” seat.
It was a seat in the trunk area that had seat belts and faced backwards.

It was the desired seat on short trips around town.
It was the seat that allowed my children to wave to the people in the car behind us.
They always hoped that the people would wave back.
They often did which made the ones doing the waving burst into giggles.

However a “way back” seat and a spaghetti dinner do not mix.
I remember it well.
After that time, I always had a bucket in the car.
It was actually the round plastic base of a vaporizer that no longer worked.

That round plastic base never left the car.
Even when I heard, I don’t feel too good it was always nearby.
I think the round plastic base was actually used only a handful of times.
It was so nice to know it was there just in case.

There was always a certain ritual when one of my children got sick.
A rectangular bucket, much like a dishpan, was placed next to them.
It was always nearby in case they couldn’t reach the bathroom quick enough.
That bucket was used often when my children were little.

Mothers of children with a stomach bug can tell you the amount of laundry she will do.
I remember the innumerable times I rinsed and disinfected that rectangular bucket.
A cool cloth on their forehead along with a gentle butterfly kiss above the cloth was necessary.
Keeping them downstairs on the sofa throughout the day kept the sick child closer to me.

It was the rectangular bucket I remember most.
I also remember the cup.
The 20-ounce cup that was really a travel mug.
I filled the cup with cold water and gave them a straw in their favorite color.

The bucket and the cup.
Telltale signs that someone was sick in our house.
To this day, if I see a rectangular bucket or a certain type of cup, I remember.
Simple items that were used to comfort.

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciple’s feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. (John 13:1-5)

Two simple items that were used by Jesus.
One simple task that should have been done by the servants.
One simple task that was done by Jesus instead.
One simple task that took on new meaning and significance in Jesus’ Hands.

This one simple task was the way Jesus showed the full extent of His love.
The full extent of His love.
Nothing extravagant.
Nothing ostentatious.

Jesus, the Savior-Servant washing feet.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For He knew who was going to betray Him, and that is why He said not every one was clean. (John 13:6-11)

In this culture, the roads were hot and dusty and the traveler walked in sandals.
Non-Jewish slaves did the menial task of foot washing.
Foot washing was usually done upon arrival, not during the meal.
No one had offered to wash the disciples’ feet before this meal.

Jesus was exemplifying humility and service.
Humility and service was the full extent of His love.
Jesus washed all of the disciples’ feet, even though Judas would later betray Him.
Jesus demonstrated how to love your enemies by washing Judas’ feet.

Jesus was acutely aware that His Father put all things in His hands.
His position was not one where He expected to be served.
His position was one where He would humbly serve.
We have an example to live by.

Jesus turns the conversation from a physical washing to something of deeper significance.
Jesus talks about them having a bath and needing only to wash their feet.
The Spirit of God cleansed their hearts.
Now they needed to come to Him each day and put their dirty feet in His hands.

The bath we receive by the Holy Spirit is complete and never needs repeating.
A daily foot washing of repentance is needed because we continue to sin.
We all need personal sanctification each day; we need help to be made holy.
We need to admit our sin, admit that we need help, and put our dirty feet in His hands.

When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call Me Teacher and Lord and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:12-15)

We have a perfect example of humility and service.
We have a perfect demonstration of how to love our enemies.
I have set an example, that you should do as I have done for you.
Now that we know the full extent of His love, how well are we living it out?