Scripture Verses
John 13:1-17 (NIV)
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a]
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus 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!"
10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12When 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. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Devotion
“You will never wash my feet.” Peter’s reluctance is all too easy to understand. Foot washing was a menial chore for servants and therefore beneath Jesus’ dignity. Besides, foot washing normally occurred upon guests’ arrival, so for Jesus to interrupt the Last Supper to wash the disciples’ already clean feet may have seemed unnecessary and maybe even a little bizarre. Finally, Peter may have been embarrassed—these were days of traveling on foot over dusty roads, and Peter’s feet surely reflected those conditions.
Jesus’ reply is unequivocal and non-negotiable: “unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” This is about soiled hearts, not dirty feet. Before the disciples can partake in the Last Supper and before they may comprehend Jesus’ sacrifice on their behalf, purification is necessary. Jesus’ action is no gesture of humility for its own sake but a necessary act of grace and love that Peter can only accept by letting go of his pride.
How often do we react like Peter? Maybe we try to block off certain areas of our lives from God’s influence or decide that some problems are too small for God. “I can handle this one,” we may say to God. Or maybe we want to control when God gets involved. “I’ll let you know if I get stuck. Don’t want you to go to any unnecessary trouble.” No matter how well we convince ourselves otherwise, these attempts to put boundaries on God are not actions of reverence and humility, but of pride and presumption. God is not fooled, and He knows better than we how badly we need His cleansing. Like Peter, we cannot be his disciples until we let go of our pride and humble ourselves before God.
Prayer
Dear God, help me to welcome you into every part of my life.
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