Day 19

Events in and around the Last Supper...

John 13:2-17 NIV84

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

Jesus 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." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he 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. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. ..." 

What did Jesus know? What did this knowledge compel Him to do? 

Jesus washed the feet of all His disciples, even Judas Iscariot. How do you think He felt washing His betrayer's feet? How do you feel about it? How do you feel about Jesus washing your feet? What about the call for you to wash the feet of others? Even those who betray you?

Jesus turned the world's idea of how to use authority upside-down. When it comes to the authority entrusted to you, which world-view do you follow? Jesus's? Or the world's?

This is a hard teaching, Lord. Seeing Highest Authority embracing the lowliest position. The  world says, "Don't let people treat you like a doormat!" But you say be a doormat that says, "Welcome". Help me to remember that You have not turned the conventions of the world upside-down, You have just righted them to the way they were intended to be.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant...

Philippians 2:5-6 NIV84