I would love to take a survey to see how many love Valentine's Day and how many hate it. Of all holidays, is Valentine's Day not the most polarizing? It either rubs salt in your wounds or you are so obnoxiously happy no one can stand you. (You know I'm right.)
Having been on both sides I can tell you which one I prefer. I was the awkward junior high schooler who never got sent carnations on Valentines' Day. The pretty and popular girls had armfuls while I sheepishly walked the halls empty handed (cue sad violins). In high school, I was accidentally sent a dozen red roses only to find out they were meant for the other Lisa Smith. Yes, I know the meaning of rejection.
Wherever you find yourself on the "love spectrum" this Valentine's Day, I want you to remember the greatest Valentine ever. It's not found at the Hallmark store. It's found in scripture in John 13.
‘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, 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 disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.’
Get that. No card, no chocolate, not even jewelry has ever measured up to this Valentine. It leaves the recipient speechless. Try to understand that Jesus knew who He was - all Holy and all Powerful. Therefore, how could he do this menial task? How could Holy God touch stinky man feet?
He did it because He loves you. He did it because He was desperate to express to you, in a way so you could understand just how much. What He did was shocking. Only servants washed feet in that day. This night He said "I love you" by washing our feet with water. Shortly thereafter, He would wash our souls with His blood.
Some people say it on the jumbotron, some say it with a poster on the Today Show, some say it with flowers. Not Jesus. He showed the full extent of His love in the most creative, unexpected way. He washed your feet.
Wherever you fall on the "love spectrum" this year, you need to know you are not rejected. Just the opposite. You are loved with a crazy, mysterious, astounding, call your best friend on the phone kind of love. Washing feet or dying on a cross, Jesus reaches out to us over and over and over again to say, "I love you." That's my most favorite valentine of all.
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