Holy Week Devotional Day 3
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
"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 everyone 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 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.
"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
John 13:1-20 (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
"Christ washes the feet of the Apostles"
Le Breton, Jacques ; Gaudin, Jean. Christ washes the feet of the Apostles, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=29387 [retrieved March 29, 2021].
REFLECTION
Many of us are very familiar with today's reading. Even so, it is hard to accept Christ taking on the task of the lowliest servant. We know that the disciples still did not understand what Jesus needed to do to rescue them at this point.
As you reread the Scripture, picture yourself there in their midst. There was no servant present to wash your feet. Imagine how filthy your feet are with the dust, dirt, and grime of everywhere you have walked that day. How could you even feel comfortable reclining at the table to eat with such dirty feet? Do you think the disciples are wondering who is going to wash their feet? All of a sudden, Jesus rises from the table, removes His outer clothing, wraps a towel around Himself, and proceeds to wash the disciple's feet. This Jesus was their leader, their teacher, their Rabbi, their Christ, their Messiah, their Lord, but no way a servant. As you are watching, what feelings or emotions does this evoke in you?
How crazy is it that the son of God, Jesus, lays aside His authority, He lays aside His dignity, and serves His followers? What an act of humility, what an act of love, what an example of servant leadership! Jesus set an example for His disciples, which includes us. What are some ways to demonstrate servant leadership in our homes, workplaces, communities, clubs, etc.? Who are the people that serve us in our life? Are we treating them with dignity, or do we choose to lord it over those who serve and wait on us? During this week, let us consider the ways we can demonstrate humility and love to others.
PRAYER
Humble Jesus, we thank you for the sacrifice of your royalty to come and serve your creation. The way you lived and the things you did and said were so often countercultural. Who would consider that a leader would serve those beneath him? In your eyes, we are all on equal footing with one another. As your disciples, help us, Lord, to be humble in our estimation of ourselves. Please help us to see others through your eyes and seek their well-being. Please help us to be a reflection of you to everyone around us. May our actions glorify you, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
SONG
Sacrifice of Song – He Washed Their Feet
Composed by Mary Beth Philp
Sung by Michael Crawford
"A song about the foot washing ceremony which Christ instituted the evening of His final Passover. In writing this song, I have attempted to juxtapose the image of this man humbly kneeling down to wash the feet of His disciples with what we believe about His true identity. I have written those parts of the song listing aspects of His identity in the form of questions, questions which I put out there for the listener's consideration. Many thanks to my dear friend, Michael Crawford, for bringing this song to life with his fitting arrangement and beautiful vocal." -Mary Beth Philp
Link to Mary Beth Philp's page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0M5VMYeJFZ_Dpnu4qL4HRQ
Used by permission