Holy Week
JOHN 13: 13-17
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.[a] 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,[c] to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
REFLECTION:
- Think about this passage in light of the time that Jesus has left to be with His disciples. He has spent three years with them and now this is the last meal they will have together. What He says to them must be REALLY important! After He washes their feet, He tells them they “ought to wash each others’ feet.”
What do you think Jesus means by this?
- Some of us are geared more naturally to be servants and some of us are geared to graciously accept the service of others. When Peter refuses the foot washing from Jesus, he is rebuked. Jesus shows us that it is important to serve and to allow others to serve us.
Do you have a hard time serving other people? Do you feel awkward or inadequate in doing so? Today, determine that you will reach out to someone with a kind word, an offer to pick up groceries or make a meal. As we have several families going through the hardship of COVID illness and quarantine, we are organizing meals. If you want to help, please contact Laney Bliss at laney@inewhope.org.
If you have a hard time accepting service from others, the next time someone offers to help you, say “Yes, thank you!”
- Please continue to remember all the people in our church family who are ill and wash them in your prayers. We will get through this TOGETHER!