Pete, Your Feet Stink

Whenever I see TOMS (you know, those little slip-on shoes), my first thought is always, “Those shoes stink.”

I’ve never had a pair of TOMS myself, but someone who lives in my house did have a pair.

And those shoes stunk.

Here’s the formula: sweaty feet + no socks + shoes = stink.

If you don’t believe me, just find someone wearing skinny jeans and a pair of TOMS—ask them if you can smell one of their shoes. I guarantee it: they stink.

Peter probably wasn’t wearing TOMS or skinny jeans, but his feet were dirty and stunk, and Jesus knew it.

Demonstrating the kingdom value of serving others, Jesus washed his disciples feet.

When it was Peter’s turn, Pete declined.

Jesus said, “If you refuse the foot washing, you’re refusing me altogether.”

So Pete quickly changed his tune. “Wash all of me then!”

I imagine Jesus rolled his eyes just a little bit when Peter said that.

He replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean.”

Basically, Jesus was saying, “Pete, it’s your feet—your feet stink. I’m gonna take care of that now” (John 13.10).

Peter didn’t need to get saved all over again. He was already saved. He belonged to the kingdom of God…

And his feet stunk.

He had the stink of sin on him.

It happens—to us all. Every one of us stinks like sin.

The Bible says if we break just one little rule—we’re guilty of breaking all of God’s big rules (James 2.10).

It’s really not an issue of big sins or little ones, sins that “count” and ones that don’t. Sin is sin.

We like to think if we keep our TOMS on, no one will ever know that our feet stink.

We like to think our “little” sins can be nicely decorated, covered up, and contained—and no one will ever know…

But Jesus does know.

We all carry the stink of sin and we all need to be washed by Jesus.

We all need the grace of God. Apart from the grace of God, nobody is saved—and nobody makes it into His kingdom.

The Good News is: there’s grace for us all.

God isn’t surprised by the stink of sin on us.

We don’t have to cover up, fake it, or hide.

We just give Jesus access—and let him do the work.

PS—I bet the next time you see TOMS you’ll think what I think.

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