Before
the Passover festival began, Jesus was keenly aware that His hour had
come to depart from this world and to return to the Father. From
beginning to end, Jesus’ days were marked by His love for His people. 2 Before
Jesus and His disciples gathered for dinner, the adversary filled Judas
Iscariot’s heart with plans of deceit and betrayal. 3 Jesus, knowing that He had come from God and was going away to God, 4 stood up from dinner and removed His outer garments. He then wrapped Himself in a towel, 5 poured water in a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with His towel. Simon Peter (as Jesus approaches): 6 Lord, are You going to wash my feet? Jesus: 7 Peter, you don’t realize what I am doing, but you will understand later. Peter: 8 You will not wash my feet, now or ever! Jesus: If I don’t wash you, you will have nothing to do with Me. Peter: 9 Then wash me but don’t stop with my feet. Cleanse my hands and head as well. Jesus: 10 Listen, anyone who has bathed is clean all over except for the feet. But I tell you this, not all of you are clean. Within pain and filth, there is an opportunity to extend God’s kingdom through an expression of love, humility, and service. This simple act of washing feet is a metaphor for how the world looks through the lens of Jesus’ grace. He sees the people—the world He created—which He loves. He also sees the filthy corruption in the world that torments everyone. His mission is to cleanse those whom He loves from those horrors. This is His redemptive work with feet, families, disease, famine, and hearts. When Jesus sees disease, He sees the opportunity to heal. When He sees sin, He sees a chance to forgive and redeem. When He sees dirty feet, He sees a chance to wash them. 11 He knew the one with plans of betraying Him, which is why He said, “not all of you are clean.” |
Daily Prayer > New Testament >
