John
13:1-17, It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had
come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who
were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress,
and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,
“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will
understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never
wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash
you, you have no part with me.” “Then,
Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash
their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one
of you.” For he knew who
was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to
his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so,
for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your
feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I
have done for you. Very
truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater
than the one who sent him. Now that you know
these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
I’d like to offer a ‘throwback’ post
regarding the sacramental nature of foot washing, found here.
But also…
Love fiercely, with a heart of servanthood, to the end… That’s blessing…
Be like Jesus…
L.
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