Why Are Feet So Gross?
Let’s be real: feet are messy. Think about handling someone’s feet after a long day of hiking—the smell, the sweat, the grime. It’s instinctual to feel disgust, isn’t it? Your body reacts before your brain even registers the thought: “Nope, not touching that!”
But here’s the thing: what if I told you that the same instinctive disgust we feel toward feet also influences how we see people? And what if I told you that Jesus came to rewrite that reaction?
Let’s dive into how our biological instincts can shape our relationships—and how Jesus challenges us to break through those barriers.
The Biology of Disgust: It’s More Than a Feeling
Here’s your quick biology lesson: when you see or smell something gross—like dirty feet—your senses send signals to your insula, the part of your brain that recognizes disgust. From there, your amygdala amplifies the feeling, treating it as a potential threat.
This response is great for survival. It keeps you from drinking spoiled milk or eating rotten food. But here’s the problem: this instinct doesn’t stop at biological threats—it spills over into how we see people. It creates divisions, blinds us to others’ humanity, and keeps us from seeing the image of God in them.
Simon, the Pharisee: A Case Study in Contempt
This brings us to Simon, a Pharisee who hosted Jesus for dinner. Simon’s world was defined by boundaries: clean vs. unclean, acceptable vs. unacceptable. These rules weren’t just religious—they were survival mechanisms, designed to keep his community pure and holy.
But those boundaries came at a cost. They excluded, isolated, and judged others—turning holiness into a tool of division instead of restoration.
When an uninvited woman entered the room and began anointing Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, Simon’s insula and amygdala fired off alarms. To him, this woman wasn’t just unclean—she was a threat. He couldn’t see her humanity because his disgust blinded him.
Jesus’ Radical Love: Breaking Boundaries
What did Jesus do? He didn’t just ignore Simon’s disgust—He challenged it. Jesus asked, “Do you see this woman?”
Simon couldn’t. All he saw was her unbound hair, her reputation, her “uncleanness.” But Jesus saw her love, her courage, her surrender. While Simon labeled her as a sinner, Jesus reclaimed her as a daughter of God.
From Scandal to Surrender
Imagine the woman’s perspective. Every step into Simon’s house was a risk. Every glance reminded her of her shame. Yet, she didn’t care. In Jesus, she saw something greater than her past—she saw forgiveness, hope, and love.
Her actions—washing Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, pouring out expensive perfume—weren’t about rules or appearances. They were a response to grace.
What Simon called a scandal, Jesus called surrender.
Why Disgust Shapes How We See the World
Disgust is powerful. It dehumanizes, divides, and blinds us to others’ worth. But Jesus shows us a different way—a way that reclaims and restores.
In our modern world, we don’t have Pharisaic purity laws, but we still draw boundaries. We label people as worthy or unworthy, acceptable or unacceptable. Whether it’s through contempt in relationships, societal prejudices, or subtle judgments, we let disgust dictate how we see others.
But Jesus calls us to break those boundaries. He challenges us to see people through His eyes—as valuable, redeemable, and worthy of love.
What About You?
- Who are the people you avoid? The ones you judge? The ones you’ve labeled as unworthy of grace?
- What would it take to see them the way Jesus does?
Disgust is instinctive, but love is transformative. When we choose to see others through Jesus’ eyes, we can reclaim what division and judgment have tried to destroy.
Action Steps: Living Out Radical Love
- Break a Boundary of Contempt: Who is one person you’ve avoided or judged? Start a conversation, take a step toward them, and choose love over judgment.
- Experience Grace for Yourself: Picture the woman walking out of Simon’s house—her shame left behind, her heart light, her soul free. That’s the grace Jesus offers to you, too. Will you accept it?
Final Thought: Feet Are Messy, Love Is Messier
Love isn’t clean or easy—it’s messy, just like feet. But it’s also what moves us closer to Jesus and transforms the world around us.
“What Simon called scandal, Jesus called surrender.”
Will you take the step to reclaim unity and restore what disgust tries to destroy?
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This blog is part of a larger journey. Over the next seven weeks, I’ll be exploring how shame, judgment, and division affect our lives—and how we can find belonging and restoration. I’d love for you to join the conversation.
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