HUMBLE LOVE
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Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, as I witness the world’s challenges and insecurities, thank you for your steadfast love and faithful care that I can count on to remain unchanged.
Read JOHN 13:1–17
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus 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!”
10 Jesus 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.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When 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. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Reflect
Read Philippians 2:5–11 and meditate on just one or two words that help you to reflect on the unique character of Jesus.Embedded in Jesus’ extended discourses is this refreshing piece of drama. The disciples recline at the evening meal (v. 2). We can imagine a bewildered silence as they watch Jesus get up from the meal (v. 4); we hear Peter burst onto the scene with his mix of passion and confusion (vv. 8, 9). This foot washing is not the hygienic and practical hospitality you might receive on entering a house, but is taking place, bewilderingly, in the middle of the meal.
Verses 1–4 provide a lens through which to view Jesus’ purposeful actions. He stoops—literally and symbolically—to take the place of a servant. He can do this without fear of powerlessness because he already has ‘all things’ through the Father (v. 3). The status configuration is not reversed: it is in and through this act of humility that Jesus embodies the character and identity of God (see vv. 4, 5; John 1:1, 2, 14). It points toward his shame and glory on the cross.
Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet is both an extraordinary example of how they should treat each other and an expression of how he loves them: completely and fully to the end of his life (v. 1).
Apply
What does it mean for you to receive the humble love of Jesus? What would it mean for you to offer this kind of love to those around you?
Closing prayer
Jesus, the Bible shows me examples of your love—for those who mourn, the weary and sick, the disabled, for sinners—for me. Never was there greater humility shown than when you left heaven for earth to seek and save the lost and then suffer shame on the cross. Please help me to reflect your love and humility toward those around me.
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