DAY THIRTY-SIX – Tuesday, March 30, 2021
John 13:1-17
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
This well-known passage from John’s Gospel takes place just before the festival of the Passover. Jesus knows that his “hour” has come to depart from this world and return to the Father. Jesus focuses on teaching his disciples and trying to prepare them for what is to come.
Jesus demonstrates his love for his disciples by taking the role of a slave and washing their feet. Jesus leads by example here and I believe that the lesson that he is teaching us in this passage is that we should care for the needs of others without expecting anything in return. That includes caring for those who treat us well, but also caring for those who disappoint and betray us, as Jesus was betrayed.
I believe that this Bible passage encourages us to go out in the world and serve one another in the same way that Jesus has asked his disciples to serve themselves by washing each other’s feet. During this pandemic time there are many people who need our care and service, those that experience food insecurity, the lonely and the fearful; to name a few.
Jesus is reminding us to love one another as he has loved us and to spread his love and live by his word. We are reminded that no one is above anyone else and our words and actions can make a difference.
Doug Suppelsa
John 13:1-17
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
This well-known passage from John’s Gospel takes place just before the festival of the Passover. Jesus knows that his “hour” has come to depart from this world and return to the Father. Jesus focuses on teaching his disciples and trying to prepare them for what is to come.
Jesus demonstrates his love for his disciples by taking the role of a slave and washing their feet. Jesus leads by example here and I believe that the lesson that he is teaching us in this passage is that we should care for the needs of others without expecting anything in return. That includes caring for those who treat us well, but also caring for those who disappoint and betray us, as Jesus was betrayed.
I believe that this Bible passage encourages us to go out in the world and serve one another in the same way that Jesus has asked his disciples to serve themselves by washing each other’s feet. During this pandemic time there are many people who need our care and service, those that experience food insecurity, the lonely and the fearful; to name a few.
Jesus is reminding us to love one another as he has loved us and to spread his love and live by his word. We are reminded that no one is above anyone else and our words and actions can make a difference.
Doug Suppelsa
