We look for punishment.  We want to know what the penalty will be if we don’t do something. We want to know where the boundaries are, how far we can go before we get hurt or scolded or destroyed.

I understand that feeling. I get a phone call and think, “Oh no, what did I do now.” Someone says, “Can I talk to you for a minute tomorrow?” and I think, “I wonder what the problem is going to be.”

We look at the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and think, “This is going to be another one of those guilt things, isn’t it. I bet Jesus is going to make us miserable if we don’t do this thing, too.” That’s often how we do church. We look for the rules, the limits, the expectations, the penalties. Because it is easy. Because it comes naturally.

But look more closely at what Jesus says to the disciples after he finishes washing their feetand gets dressed. He starts with a should, just like we expect:  “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

He piles it on: I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Now the kicker:  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Wait, what? Not “you will be cursed if you don’t?” Not, “I did this to make you feel guilty?”

Nope. Jesus said that serving blesses the servant. But that shouldn’t be a surprise. After all, he’s not doing it out of guilt-avoidance. He’s doing it for love.