Intro: The Lord is always preparing us for the next level of things we must walk into on our journey following the Spirit of Christ. God’s preparation involves every aspect of Kingdom life; let that Truth and Love permeate your understanding. God uses the things of the past [successes and failures] to strengthen us and to assure us of his ongoing presence with us. He never wastes what is happening in the present. The hard places make us exercise endurance and patience. The easy places make us rest and find hope. All of this is valuable fresh manna [grace] for our souls. The Lord does not just take us forward and drop us off; he prepares us and equips us and makes his grace abound within and around us so we will be victorious whether we are serving fellow believers or unbelievers for the glory of God.
In our lesson today, Jesus is prepared for the difficult days ahead, but he takes time to prepare all of his disciples, as well. Jesus knows Judas is going to betray him, but he washes his feet, anyway. Jesus knows the disciples are going to run and hide leaving him to face the cross alone, but he washes their feet, anyway. In the Hebrew culture, the removal of a person’s sandals and the washing of feet is symbolic of preparing that person to walk in newness of life. As Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, he was making them ready to receive their new “walking” orders—the time to start walking in holiness, love, and the authority of God. With the impartation of the Spirit, the disciples were on their way! If you know Jesus, he has washed your feet, too. So, receive his power and live like a devoted disciple of Jesus! The world is watching…
Jesus Washes Feet
13 Jesus knew that the night before Passover would be his last night on earth before leaving this world to return to the Father’s side. All throughout his time with his disciples, Jesus had demonstrated a deep and tender love for them. And now he longed to show them the full measure of his love. 2 Before their evening meal had begun, the accuser [satan] had already deeply embedded betrayal [rose up] into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
3 Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him. 4 So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel.
6 But when Jesus got to Simon Peter, he objected and said, “I can’t let you wash my dirty feet—you’re my Lord!”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.” [preparing them for a new place of covenant inheritance]
8 Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!”
“But Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with me.”
9 So Peter said, “Lord, in that case, don’t just wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!”
10 Jesus said to him, “You are already clean. You’ve been washed completely and you just need your feet to be cleansed—but that can’t be said of all of you.” For Jesus knew which one was about to betray him, 11 and that’s why he told them that not all of them were clean.
12 After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I just did?” Jesus said. 13 “You’ve called me your teacher and lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am. 14–15 So if I’m your teacher and lord and have just washed your dirty feet, then you should follow the example that I’ve set for you and wash one another’s dirty feet. Now do for each other what I have just done for you. 16 I speak to you timeless truth: a servant is not superior to his master, and an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him. 17 So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for washing my feet and for the grace you bring each day to my life. You sustain me and feed me Truth that prepares me for everything I face each day; I cannot thank you enough. In Jesus’ name. Amen.