Washing Osama's Feet

I found this interesting article on http://gregboyd.blogspot.com/2007/11/washing-osamas-feet.html and would like to know the comments of other members.

Brad Cole is a friend of mine who runs a ministry called Heavenly Sanctuary. This ministry puts on Conferences around the country on the Character of God -- and they get it right. This year they hired an artist named Lars Justinen from the Justinen Creative Group to paint the above picture to use on posters advertising their conference. Under this picture they had captions like "Follow the Leader," "God IS Great," and most accurately, "Jesus - Still Too Radical?"

Heavenly Sanctuary had contracts with several malls in the Seattle area to hang these posters advertising their conference, but no sooner had the posters gone up than angry calls began flooding the malls. Many people -- but, it seems, mostly Christians -- were offended at the image of Jesus washing Osama Bin Laden’s feet. There was such an outcry that each of the malls decided to go back on their contract and take the posters down. The Christian College that Heavenly Sanctuary was renting space from to host the Conference also canceled their contract. Brad had to scramble to find a secular venue (which, ironically, had no problems with the poster).

What does this say about how many American Christians envision Jesus? Obviously, the protesters believe that Jesus would not wash Osama Bin Laden’s feet. But Jesus died "not only for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world" (I Jn 2:2) -- and this obviously includes Osama. So if Jesus died for Osama, how are we to imagine him being unwilling to wash his feet?

What the protest reveals is that many Christians have tragically allowed their patriotism to co-opt their faith. They have allowed their American citizenship to take priority over their Kingdom citizenship -- despite the New Testament's instruction for disciples to consider themselves "foreigners" and "exiles" wherever they happen to live (Heb. 11:13; I Pet 1:17, 2:11) and to consider their real citizenship "in heaven" (Phil 3:20). Many American Christians seem to want a Jesus who will defend their country and hate their national enemies as much as they do. Many want the Jesus of the Middle Ages whom Crusaders called on to help them slaughter -- not serve -- their Islamic enemies. Many seem to want to reduce Jesus to just another version of the tribal gods that have been called on for centuries to bless tribal battles. Most wars throughout history have been fought under the banner of some god or another.

Fortunately, the real Jesus isn't anything like this. Knowing all power had been given to him, John says, he wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the dirty, smelly feet of people he knew would deny and betray him in a couple hours (Jn 13:3-5). Knowing he could call legions of angels to vanquish his foes, the real Jesus rather chose to let them crucify him, because this is what they needed him to do (though they of course didn't know it). Then, with his last breath, the real Jesus prays to his Father to forgive his barbaric torturers -- and all of us (Lk 23:34).

This is the kind of power the omnipotent God of the universe uses against his enemies. And this is the kind of power we're to use against our "enemies." It's the power of Calvary-like love.

We're called to imitate the Jesus who washes the feet of enemies, dies for them, and prays for their forgiveness. We are to "live in love, as Christ loved us and gave his life for us..." (Eph. 5:1-2). When we were enemies, Jesus nevertheless ascribed unsurpassable worth to us by paying an unsurpassable price for us. We who claim we are his disciples are called to do the same. We're to sacrificially ascribe unsurpassable worth to all people, including our enemies -- even Osama Bin Laden.

In light of God's servant love toward us, we must be willing to wash Osama's feet -- and pray for his forgiveness.

Jesus says to us:

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt..." (Lk 6:27-29)

And in case we missed the point, he comes back five verses later and says:

"...love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. (How important is this? Read this next sentence carefully). Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Lk 6: 27-29; 35-36).

When we act like our kind Father, we reflect the fact that we are his children.

In Christ, God's been kind to Osama. May we who are his children do the same. May we be encouraged by the above picture rather than offended by it. May we pray, "Father, forgive Osama. He doesn't know what he's doing."

Greg

P.S. In case some of the faces on the poster are unfamiliar to you, they are (left to right) German Chancellor Angela Merkel; Tony Blair, England; Kofi A. Annan, UN; Osama bin Laden; George Bush; Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; and Jiang Zemin, former president of China.

You asked for comments, here they are:

• ridiculous
  
• blasphemous
  
• author misquoted the Bible
  

God bless

Jesus never washed the feet of satan rather He scolded him and told satan to leave Him. I believe this whoe thing is blasphemy and Jesus washed the feet of those who loved and followed Him. Now the question is - all the leaders shown in the picture, do they love or follow Jesus? Osama is satan of the modern world and I would use Jesus' word, "Away from me satan".

God bless you all

danie;,you do know that jesus once said to peter,get behind me satan?while I agree this picture does upset the flesh.the concept that jesus died for all SINNERS.which osama is,and the fact that jesus did say to love your enemies and pray for them means even osama can be saved.we as christian are not to judge.now iam not saying what he did was not wrong.iam saying God is his judge.personally I find the picture revolting,but I believe that is my flesh.and again I will say even osama can be saved.

jesus came to save the world from sin.the action depicted in this picture has nothing to do with forgiving your enemies.this was a lesson on being a servant to all ,even if you are the leader of all.jesus was telling his apostles he who is first must be a servant to all,and be last.jesus did tell us to love everyone,even our enemies.now that being said,we all know in the flesh thats impossible,but with God nothing is impossible.that would be my answer.and yes my flesh still doesn,t like this picture.

tom2 wrote:jesus came to save the world from sin.the action depicted in this picture has nothing to do with forgiving your enemies.this was a lesson on being a servant to all ,even if you are the leader of all.jesus was telling his apostles he who is first must be a servant to all,and be last.jesus did tell us to love everyone,even our enemies.now that being said,we all know in the flesh thats impossible,but with God nothing is impossible.that would be my answer.and yes my flesh still doesn,t like this picture.

I completely agree with you.

Littlelamb thank you for your stand and I agree with you whether they may quote "Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you". This is irrelevant and totally blasphemous preaching. It is only an assumption and nothing more than that.

Interesting and quite an intriguing article, don't you think that Jesus set an example for all of us to follow? I would go with Tom2 and I believe that Jesus can forgive anyone.

God bless

He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36)

I think that my eyes are not blind and I see God's wrath on Osama, this verse is enough to answer all the remarks.

God bless you all