God’s Mission
John 13:1-5
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
1 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.
Pondering Point
How does Jesus show love to His followers to the end – or as another version puts it, show the full extent of His love? He washes their feet. He serves them in a simple, even menial, way. Of course, He will soon serve them in the most profound and majestic way possible by dying on the cross. Both actions show deep love and a great heart for His friends – His disciples!
Have you become familiar with this extensive and expensive love from God? Have you become a sharer of such extensive and expensive love from God? That is God’s mission: That you receive His love through Jesus Christ and that you extend that love to others in the name of Jesus Christ.
This evening of foot-washing also sees Jesus tell His disciples to love one another as He loved them. That love ranged from foot-washing to life-giving moments. Be ready to give and receive such love in such moments.
Prayer
Father God, teach me how to receive acts of love as well as to give them. Inspire me to give them as well as receive them. Help me take a page out of Jesus' book and love people to the end as it were -- to the fullest extent -- and may You be glorified in it all. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.