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John 13 English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

¹ Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, ⁴ rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” ⁸ Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹² When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. ¹⁸ I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ ¹⁹ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. ²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

REFLECTION

• Read over this passage a few times slowly. If time allows, read the whole chapter.
• In the Last Supper, Jesus acted out a lesson in servitude. Jesus also shows us the spirit He expects in those who follow Him. Greatness in Christ’s eyes does not come from having many servants but from being the servant of many.
• In your early spiritual life, who was one of the people that demonstrated to you what it means to “wash feet”?
• How will you put Jesus’ teaching into practice in at least one relationship this week at home, work, or church?
• Ask God to give you a humble spirit.

PRAYER

Lord, please give me a humble spirit! How big is my pride? So big that I don’t consider myself a proud person! When I deeply examine my heart, I realize how great the darkness inside me is. I find that the less proud I think of myself, the more proud I am. Lord, the human heart is really deceitful above all things. It always disguises pride as humility and falsehood as sincerity. I am like a bowl full of mud. If I don’t empty the filth, how can I hold Your living water of life? Lord, I would like to learn from You in denying Yourself and imitate Your humility in washing the feet of the disciples. Empty me, cleanse me, and make me a suitable vessel for You to hold the living water of Your fountain of life and give it to those who are thirsty to drink freely. Lord, I am willing to be faithful in all small things, to count others more significant than myself, to sympathize with the weaknesses of my brothers and sisters, and to use my humility to tolerate the pride of others. I know it is very difficult to do this, but I wish to rely on the strength of the Lord to overcome, and may the Lord be with me at all times. Amen!

HYMN

The Servant King – youtu.be/A0FSZ_iSYO8