If you knew you only had a week to live, what would you do with it?
Most answers center around sort of selfish things..and we’re unapologetic about that. See sights we’ve never seen, travel the world, profess our undying love for an old flame, spend time with our families.
I think a lot about what Jesus did with his last week left on Earth. He knew it was his last week. He knew what He had to do, and yet there wasn’t anything He needed to see. Nothing He needed to experience that He hadn’t yet. What He did do with His last week, is absolutely fascinating.
As we approach Easter, I have been studying the “Holy Week”. The week leading up to the crucifixion and death of Jesus. I just can’t get away from what happened on Thursday.
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”
He washed their feet and they ate together. He taught them how to remember his sacrifice, which wasn’t just the bread and the wine. It’s not just about feeding yourself, but about serving others.
Jesus lowered Himself to the position of the lowliest slave. Feet were gross in that culture. There was dust and dirt and poop in the streets…and the people wore sandals. It was a gross job, and it put you in a position of bowing to another person. It must have felt so vulnerable too, for the MESSIAH to be washing your feet, and everyone watching. Peter thought he was being honoring when he refused Jesus…he didn’t want Jesus to think he was taking advantage of Him, or like he thought he was better than Him somehow.
There is an element to this of allowing Jesus to serve you. Accepting the fact that Jesus laid down His life for you, and so you are valuable to Him. We’re not serving a God who elevates Himself over us, but who humbled Himself for us.
Discussion:
What do you think it would feel like to have Jesus wash your feet?
What do you think it means for us to wash other people’s feet?
How do you serve others in your life? (outside the church, inside the church)
What do you think needs to change in your life, to line up with the spirit of what Jesus is saying here?
Read:
How can you show kindness to the poor?
Why is it more blessed to give than to receive? What does that really mean, and how can you allow that truth to change your life?
What does it mean to let your light shine before others? How do we balance doing good deeds and allowing the grace of Jesus to cover us in salvation?
What does it mean to use your freedom to indulge the flesh? How do we serve one another in love?