Maundy Thursday, March 29, 2018

John 13:1-17 (ESV): Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

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. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 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.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 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.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

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? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 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. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Reflection by: Serina Brown, Community Center Director

A son wakes up infused with pain. “How did I get here?” he ponders. A boy yesterday now forced to be a man. Thrown out on the streets, his life now feels like a dream. He dwells on these words about his mom who is controlled by drugs, “mama, I love you, but I hate you” (agonizing). This is the true story of one of the teens we work with at the Center. He has been left to figure out where his life is headed. Can the words of hate and love dwell in the same place?

Jesus knew the depravity of our hearts and still chose to die for us. This son needed an experience and an encounter that would embrace him in love and wash his feet (the dirt of the pain that felt unmovable). The night Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, He longed to show them the full measure of His love (John 13:1). Jesus told His disciples to follow His example and wash one another’s dirty feet; do to others as He did for them (John 13:16).  At the Community Center we are honored every day to love those who are racked with pain in their hearts. We do not usually wash their feet physically (although it has happened!), but we are honored to wash their feet spiritually. Serving them through their brokenness is the highest honor. We are doing our best to answer this young man’s call to love him in the midst of his dark night. Will you show someone else a measure of His love too?

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Jesus sets the example of washing his disciples’ feet in an act of humility and service. Can you think of ways that you can wash someone else’s feet, both physically and spiritually?
2. Who is Christ calling you to love through a dark hour?
3. What did Jesus mean when he told Peter, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (verse 8)?

PRAYER GUIDE

1. Pray that we would not just know the things Jesus taught, but that we would also do them (verse 17).
2. Pray that God would show you who He wants you to share His love with this week.
3. Pray that the kids and families from the Community Center who are in pain would turn to Christ and allow Him to heal their wounds.