Reading 43
He washed their feet
The reading
John 13:1-17
Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put 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 came from God, and was going to God, arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.”
So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
The companions
Psalm 133
See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that came down on the edge of his robes; like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion: for there the LORD gives the blessing, even life forever more.
Isaiah 52:13-15
Behold, my servant will deal wisely. He will be exalted and lifted up, and will be very high. Just as many were astonished at you (his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men), so he will cleanse many nations. Kings will shut their mouths at him: for they will see that which had not been told them; and they will understand that which they had not heard.
The note
John tells you what Jesus knows before he tells you what Jesus does. He knows the Father has put everything into his hands. He knows where he came from and where he is going. Then he gets up, lays aside his outer clothes, ties on a towel, and does the job given to the lowest servant in the house.
The order matters. This is not humility from a man with no options. It is someone at full authority spending it downward.
Peter refuses, and his refusal is the part people skip. He would rather not be knelt in front of. Most of us are the same. It is easier to be useful than to be served.
The last line is exact. Not blessed are you if you know these things. Blessed are you if you do them.
This week
Find the task on your team that nobody wants and everyone assumes is beneath them — the tedious cleanup, the ticket queue, the thing that gets left. Do it yourself this week, without announcing it and without turning it into a lesson. Then do the harder half. Let someone help you with something you would normally push through alone, and say yes when they offer. Both halves are in the passage. The second one is the one people skip.
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain). The divine name is rendered “the LORD” in the Psalm.
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