JOHN 13:1-17, 34-35 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 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.
Reflection
We live in a world saturated with references to love. “Love” features prominently in books, music, and movies. It is a part of countless myths and fairy tales of ages past.
But the love we speak of in this world is a love that wears out. Friendships crumble. Arguments and apathy tear marriages apart. Quarrels divide families.
When Jesus came into this world, he came to show us the full extent of God’s love. The disciples, rushing to get the best seats as they came to share a meal with Jesus (see Luke 22:24), had overlooked the courtesy of washing their feet on the way in. That was dirty work, slave’s work. They judged it to be beneath them—but it was not beneath the Son of God.
God’s love has the power to endure our insults, our rebellion, and all the rest of our sin. He does not turn away from us, but goes all the way to the cross for us. Jesus cleanses our souls as well as our bodies. We are clean! God has poured his love out for us in a new way, a way that does not quit, and he empowers us to do the same.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for showing us love in a new way. Thank you for dying so that we can be cleansed from sin. Help us to love others as you have loved us. Amen.
Glorious God, open our eyes to the wonders of your creation.
Open our hands to the abundance of your gifts.
Open our minds to the peace of your presence.
Open our hearts to the mystery of your love.
Glorious God, open our whole lives to your glory and we shall be changed.
Amen.
God, you love us without conditions and without limits, but often we reject your love and that of our friends and neighbours.
Lord, have mercy.
We hide from those who demand more of our care and compassion than we are willing to give.
Lord, have mercy.
We nurse grievances and refuse to forgive those who have hurt us.
Lord, have mercy.
We hurt others by our words, by our actions and by our silence.
Lord, have mercy.
We are greedy for your gifts and refuse to share them with those in need.
Lord, have mercy.
We turn away from images of poverty, hunger and disease, and shut our ears to the cries of the poor.
Lord, have mercy.
We are bound by selfishness and find it hard to love. God, teach us to love as you love, without conditions and without limits.
Lord, have mercy.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank you for those who care for us day by day, and who show us love’s tenderness.
We thank you for those you have given us to love, in our families and among our friends, and who show us love’s gratitude.
We thank you for those who help us when we are unable to help ourselves, and who show us love’s kindness.
We thank you for those who know all our faults, and who show us love’s patience.
We thank you for those we have grieved and hurt, who repeatedly forgive us, and who show us love’s generosity.
We thank you for your love which sustains us, and which shows us that love has no end. Amen.
Suggested listening A new commandment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X8m9tVR0_Y O Lord, all the world belongs to you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYKTh1yLFZo Kneels at the feet of his friends https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tyNO9QVVK4
