John 13:1-17, 34-35
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.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
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.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
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. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them…
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Devotion
With his death imminent, Jesus washed His disciple’s feet as a final proof of His love and to give them an example of humility and service. In an obvious demonstration of love for His enemies, Jesus washed all of His disciples’ feet, including Judas’s. Jesus’ act is all the more remarkable because washing people’s feet was considered a task so low it could be carried out only by non-Jewish servants. Jesus was clearly modeling for His disciples the qualities of biblical love.
Two characteristics of biblical love stand out in this passage: humility and service to others. Biblical love is marked by humility and the willingness to serve others. Jesus’ whole earthly life and ministry were summed up this way: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus, the divine Son of God, left His home in glory, took on the form of a man, and willingly died to redeem lost humanity. What an awesome example of humility and service! In Philippians chapter two, Paul writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a servant…He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”
You see, Jesus is our role model for biblical love. He humbled Himself and became a servant to secure our salvation. In Romans chapter five, Paul writes, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (verse 8). Just as Jesus set an example by washing His disciple’s feet, He also modeled biblical love by offering His life up as a sacrifice so that we could be reconciled to God.
Questions to Ponder:
Do you reflect biblical love to those around you? Does humility and service to others mark your life? What are some practical ways you can model biblical love to people of a different race? How far would you go to serve others? Are you able to love your enemies?
Prayer Points
- Ask God to give you a biblical love.
- Pray for someone you know you have offended, wounded or bothered. Reach out to them with encouraging text (if appropriate).
- Ask God to impart His love for all people to you.
- Pray for our church family at Grace Community Church in the Cody area.
Suggested Prayer
Lord, I love You. I lift my eyes to You because You are my everything. Faithful Father, change and transform me into Your likeness. Make me a trophy of Your grace and love. Grant me Your power to submit, surrender, serve and to love like You. Help me to pray for my enemies, to forgive them and to walk in the light and freedom of Jesus. I ask that You give me Your eyes to see and celebrate all the different cultures. Help me to hear the cries of those oppressed and see them. I ask that You move my heart with compassion that changes into action. Help me to know and see how each person is valuable, deeply loved, cherished, and precious in Your sight. Help me Father to give all that I am to You and others. You have blessed me tremendously. You have made the boundary lines to fall on me in pleasant places. I have such a good inheritance in You. Help me to serve those around me who are hurting and in need. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.