Washing the feet of our enemies

I've been thinking a lot about John 13.  

Jesus is with all of the twelve at this point after their meal.  He washes all of their feet.  There is no indication that he does not wash the feet of Judas.  In fact, in his dialogue with the twelve, he alludes to the fact that not all of them are clean (v. 11), although he has washed all of their feet.

There's a lot to be learned in Scripture by what is not said, and here, there is no mention that Judas was not a benefactor of Jesus' love and service in this moment.  There are no injunctions in Scripture of which I am aware, where we read that those we consider our "enemies" are not deserving of our service.

Often, we look at people who rub us the wrong way, and our attitude toward them is like they're enemies. They aren't enemies in the way Judas was, but we struggle with our relationship.  We all have peoeple who are like that in our lives, and chances are, we are a person like that to someone else, too.  We aren't often informed as to when we're being obnoxious or irritating.

Matthew's gospel finds Jesus providing further teaching on this subject:

You have heard it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.  For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matt. 5:43-45)

There is no escpaing the reality that we have to love and serve people who don't like us and/or whom we don't like.  We're supposed to love them, in fact.  Sometimes, it isn't easy to do.  Our hurt feelings get in the way. Sometimes, we're fearful.  I can honestly say there are a few people I'm afraid to cross because I have been on the receiving end of their vitriol, and I'd rather not have any of that, thank you very much.  Even offering a kindness can be intimidating. I've had fractured friendships that I know need resolving, and I have resisted.

This is when the going gets hard.  But that doesn't excuse a tendency to lower the standard.  It just means we will have to rely on God's grace to enable us to do the right thing.  Remembering the picture of Jesus serving Judas ought to remind us.  I don't think it's sufficient to just be civil with those we consider our "enemies." We have to serve them and love them, too.