John 13:1-17
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus 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!"
10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12When 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. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus is our Messiah...He is and was the One to come...He is God's mind...He is God in the flesh...As Thomas says, He is "My LORD and My God." (John 20:28)...He is all those things and more...Yet, He wants to and does wash the feet of His disciples...He is acting like a servant and a slave in this act of foot washing...Peter recognizes this and feels that His Master and Teacher is acting like a slave and servant and tells Him, He will never let You, wash my feet...Jesus tells Peter and us, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me."...Peter is showing his love for Jesus, or so he thinks...Jesus teaches us we cannot have true love with out humility...Peter doesn't understand this yet, but he will later...Slaves were looked down upon in the disciples time, and Peter did not want his Teacher, washing his feet...But to love from your heart, you cannot look down upon anyone...Jesus understands this, and we don't...Jesus looks in the heart of the slave, the servant, Peter, you, and me and sees us all as equal...He does not look down on anyone...We as man think of seedy areas, or tough areas of towns, and countries...Jesus sees through these things and looks at each of our hearts without arrogance or pride...He does not care who we are or where we live, or what our occupation is...A CEO or Prime Minister is no better than the slave who washes his master's feet...They are equal in His eyes...Jesus in this lesson on humility and love, shows us that when we have love in our hearts, one is are not better than anyone...He shows us that love is not self seeking...What a lesson this is to His disciples and to us...
Jesus tells us that after He finishes washing His disciples feet it is an example and lesson for them...We all should do as He has done...No servant is greater than his master, and no messenger is greater than the One who sent Him...Now that we have seen these things, we will be blessed when we do them...Jesus heart is Pure Love...
Jesus has been with God from the beginning (John 1:2)...Love has persevered through the ages...God sent Him to us to show us these things...Jesus was the most humble man to ever walk the earth...I love my LORD...He can do all things...A tear comes to my eye, when I know He is willing to wash the feet of a convict or prisoner, and I am not sure I would wash the feet of my neighbor...Let alone, could I go to the poorest part of town and wash their feet...The more we know Jesus and the more we know about Him, the more He shows us who we really are...When I think of these things, I ask Him for His great mercy...LORD have mercy on me...He loves us so much, and shows us that true love forgives without any grudges whatsoever, and true love is self sacrificing, and is the most humbling in the helping of others...These are things of love...
We think we understand love...We love certain people...God is Love...God loves everyone...He takes love to the next level, to a heavenly level, to an eternal level...St. Paul teaches us about love...Love is patient, love is kind...Love does not envy...Love does not boast, and love is not proud...Love is not proud...Love is not rude, love is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth...Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:8)...Jesus adds that love forever forgives, and is forever humble...Jesus teaches with grace...He is full of grace...Love is all of these things, which He is...What a lesson on love, grace, and humility, we learn from our LORD...