Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” John 13:1-6
While Palm Sunday may have excited Jesus’ disciples, Jesus knew the hardest work was still before Him. The triumphant entry into Jerusalem did not distract Jesus from marching forward towards the Cross. He knew His time on earth was near the end, so He shared with His disciples His final words and desires in the last week He had with them.
One evening following their dinner, Jesus began to wash the disciples’ feet. In spite of being considered the King of the Jews, Jesus was showing once again that the rules of engagement in the Kingdom of God are very different than the world’s system. While He was considered the prophet, rabbi, and the Christ, He served His disciples. He serve them instead of expecting to be served by them.
Jesus washed the disciples’ feet in spite of knowing that Judas was going to be betray Him. He certainly wasn’t condoning Judas’ behavior, but He didn’t allow Judas’ actions, to stop Him from doing the work of His ministry.
Washing other’s feet is forgiving their ugly side. Washing other’s feet is restraining from exposing their flaws to others. Washing other’s feet is declaring, “Lord I want to decrease, so you can increase in my life!”
Are you able to serve those who have ill thoughts about you? Are you able to love those who have been unlovable towards you? Do you allow other people’s attitude to choke your love and your generosity towards them?
By His example, Jesus showed that the higher God takes us, the more humble we need to become. In addition, we need to serve others with the grace God has given to us not just with our emotions. Others need to see the love of God even when they don’t deserve it. The power of love is the only hope for transformation. Praise God that Jesus did not back down from His march towards the Cross.
