Scripture: John 13:1-20
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 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.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 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.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned[a] against me.’[b]
19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
Observation:
12 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Jesus takes on the role of the lowliest of servants to show his disciples what servant ministry is all about.
Application:
Jesus is always setting an example for his disciples including us. He takes on the role of the lowliest of servants to wash the feet of his disciples. Feet can be the nastiest parts of our bodies as they are often overlooked and not cared for by the person whose feet they are. Feet can often tell the story of how well a person cares for their own body and can be an indicator of disease and suffering. To wash one’s feet sooths the whole of the body. Jesus was demonstrating servant ministry, and his expectation is that “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.” (John 13:14-15)
I remember my ordination service when Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton washed the feet of our entire ordination class. I will never forget that humbling feeling as Bishop Bickerton knelt at my feet to wash them. His expectation was that we, the ordination class would become servant ministers. I hope that i have lived up to that expectation.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when the disciples hey were arguing amongst themselves about who would be the greatest among them, you told them that whoever wanted to be the greatest would have to servant of all. Lord, when you arrived on the scene here on earth you turned the world upside down. There are some who call your kingdom the “Upside Down Kingdom” for many of our thoughts are so far from your thoughts. Help us O Lord to see the world through your eyes that we might truly become servant leaders and ministers as you have shown us the way. Amen.