Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,

rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him,

“Lord, are You washing my feet?”

Jesus answered and said to him,

“What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”

For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them,

“Do you know what I have done to you?"

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 13:1-15

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When I read this passage of scripture, there are so many things that get my mind thinking. But the most quieting thing is the heart of Jesus towards his friends. He knew that His hour had come, to die a gruesome death, to bear the sins of the whole world on himself, to be separated from the Father, to be accused of many things that He had never done, to experience physical death (which was never designed to be), and to leave those that He considered His dearest friends. He had perfectly executed all things that the Father had given Him to do, and was going back to the Father, leaving those that He had poured His truths into day after day.

He rose up from an intimate meal with them, and began to wash their feet; all of their feet, even Judas Iscariots' feet.

This example that He gave He said they would not understand right now, but later they would understand.

I think about how hard it is to receive from the Lord sometimes. How my pride takes it's place on the throne of my heart and says, "I don't need to be cleansed".

I think about Jesus' desire to cleanse me, to give me the grace I so desperately need.

And how I am like Peter in how I respond.

He is my teacher, and my Lord, may I sit at His feet and receive from Him, the grace I don't deserve.

May it cost me something to give that grace away.