Jesus got up from supper and laid His outer garments aside; and He took a towel and tied it around Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which He had tied around Himself. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, You are washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not realize right now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no place with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet; otherwise he is completely clean. And you are clean—but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; it was for this reason that He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Then, when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’; and you are correct, for so I am. So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you.

-- John 13:1-15

Reflection
I am sure that in my life I have fed someone or washed someone plenty of times - a baby or grand baby and I actually gave my dog a bath last week - and I never really gave it a second thought. However, after reading this again and thinking about it, it means so much more than just the act. It shows the humility and servanthood of Jesus to his disciples.

Although he was a “king” and deserved to be served, he chose to be the servant. Wow, what a lesson to all of us. Jesus wants us to know that we must always be servants of Christ in our daily lives. I will try to follow this and be such a servant in all that I do.

-- Karen Williams

Questions
When have you served someone in a physical way, fed someone or washed someone? Who was it? What was that like for you?
Today, every time you use a towel, be reminded of Jesus’ instruction to wash others’ feet.

Prayer
Servant Lord, on this day we remember your meal with your friends, your words of teaching, and your act of tender love. We seek only to be more and more like you each day, taking up a towel and sharing your word so that through our love the world will know we follow you. Amen.