It was
just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this
world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them
the full extent of his love.
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 in 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.
John 13: 1-17 |