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Transcription:
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew. Remember those two words. Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. The words from the Apostle John, begin our time together today on the Bible for Busy People. It’s a little bit of a different week for us. I’m Erica, your host, but we are spending time reflecting on what Jesus did for us, remembering his great, tremendous, awesome in the true sense of the word, sacrifice for you and for me. And before we begin reading about how he washed the feet of his disciples, this week over 2000 years ago, with the same hands that would be nailed to a cross for the sake of love, those same beautiful hands would open the door to heaven for me and for you. That is what we remember this week.
Jesus knew those two words I shared moments ago from John. He knew what was about to happen. Can you imagine the heaviness on his heart? I can’t. But he chose that. He chose the nails. Max Lucado, one of my favorite authors once wrote,
And he chose them because he simply loved us that much.
Alright, join me now in John’s Gospel chapter 13, beginning in verse two. We already read verse one together, and just a reminder here, this week is going to be a little different. You might hear me pause and ask you to reflect with me about the words that we’re reading. This is a different week and I hope that it feels different for you, but most of all, I hope that you feel more loved than ever. Okay, verse two now.
It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, 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.
Lord, we pause here and reflect on your humility, your beautiful example, your humanity, and the love that you are demonstrating for your closest friends. I’m reminded in this moment that my friend who’s listening and myself, we are also your friends. What you did on the cross made it possible for people to be friends with God. And we remember that today we take a moment to soak in that glorious truth that we are your friends.
Verse six now.
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.”
And I want to pause here for a moment as well and reflect that so often you and I don’t understand, but we trust him.
Lord, we commit to trusting you again. Help us Lord to trust you.
Verse eight now.
“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
There are those words again.
…who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Lord, I feel like you want us to marinate on those words today. Jesus knew. Lord, you knew everything and still you washed the feet of Judas who would betray you. Lord, we stand in awe of who you are and who you’re not. You are not a vindictive God. You teach us to love. This is what you were teaching us here. And Lord, I know that you will show us in our own lives and our own circles of influence, in our own workplaces and homes and neighborhoods. You’ll also teach us to love. Lord, help us to walk closely with you so we can learn from you. Thank you Lord.
Verse 12 now.
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.
Lord, thank you for your example. You know everything that happens to us. You know the people in our lives who are hard to love. You know that we can be hard to love so often. So, help us Lord, to walk out your example, to symbolically wash the feet of the people in our lives with forgiveness, and the love that you give to us to give away. Lord, help us not to keep it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Until next time, you are truly loved.
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