The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
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, “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.” 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. 16Very truly I tell you, 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. (John 13:3 – 17)
The event we will focus on today actually occurs on the Thursday of Passion Week but it says so much about Jesus that we will use it anyway. I am referring to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. I hope over the last two days you have started to hone in on the fact that God’s glory is manifested in His attributes, and Jesus is the “exact representation of God’s being”. The reading today should continue to help to consolidate this point. I pray that we will never get numb to the wonder of the attributes of Jesus.
Please prayerfully read the passages and answer the question below.
Question:
What aspects of God’s glory revealed in Jesus’ activities strike a chord with you?
April 17, 2019 at 8:30 am
Peter’s reaction to our Lord washing his feet always makes me smile. It’s followed by Jesus’ patient response. Such a good example for us to follow with lively children. But I drift. The main thing is that we are shown that our sins will be washed away that we should listen, tolerate, share, teach, and accept each other not necessarily in that order in His Love with understanding and patience. Hard for me at times.
April 17, 2019 at 10:25 am
The actions of Jesus is like that of an employer who, although he’s the “Boss”, is willing to get down to the level of his employees to show them, not just tell them, what he expects of them.
Jesus didn’t consider himself so “high and mighty” that he couldn’t wash his disciples’ feet. His action is a demonstration of humility and service to others.
We should follow Jesus’s example and never consider our self better than someone else to the point where we think we give a helping hand to someone in need.
April 17, 2019 at 1:00 pm
The humility of Jesus catches me by surprise. His knowledge of who He is and His purpose does as well. The reading starts highlighting Jesus’ position- having all power. Jesus knew where He was from and to whom and where He would return. In His majestic glory He showed that serving others is needed. What an example for leaders. The leader is still the leader even while serving those who follow them.
April 17, 2019 at 2:39 pm
Jesus washing the feet of his disciples reminds me or motivates me to continue serving the Lord with all that I have, and all that I can do. Without any doubt or hesitation but with perseverance and determination. God’s love for me, sacrificing His son Jesus Christ to redeem me is the best gift I’ve ever received. Living a life of obedience to His word and glorifying Him in my action and word should always be my desire and goal. Committing everything in God’s hands and relying on Him constantly, bring glory to the Lord. After all, that is what our creator wants from His creation, to restore fellowship with God. Through humility, this is possible to happen. It is God’s strength that will empower us, leading us to a victorious life with Jesus!
April 17, 2019 at 3:49 pm
As my children get older and now with a grandchild I realize humility is not only something you have to practise with strangers but with your own.
This lesson can only serve one well in life.
It is the key to becoming more like Him.
April 18, 2019 at 8:41 am
Jesus lead by example, as great leaders do. He communicated a clear message (another essential leadership quality), that He expected the disciples, as prospective leaders, to serve too. In a sense He rearranged the concept of leadership and showed ministry (service) was an essential part it. To His glory, again, Jesus showed His way of thinking is above that of humanity.
Washing the feet (considered the dirtiest part of the body) was a menial task, as Peter implied, it was not expected of a leader. However, through the love that God possesses, He is prepared to “get low” in order to cleanse humanity. That is the nature of the God who created us. It is a hard concept for some people to grasp, hence the Muslim belief that God is too majestic to come down into the world to save us.
What also strikes a chord with me is that God never asks us to do things that he is not willing to do Himself. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). God demands humility from us and demonstrates this Himself in the person of Christ, Jesus.