It was before Passover, and Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to return to the Father. He had always loved his followers in this world, and he loved them to the very end.
Even before the evening meal started, the devil had made Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, decide to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples' feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing.
But when he came to Simon Peter, that disciple asked, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You don't really know what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"You will never wash my feet!" Peter replied. "If I don't wash you," Jesus told him, "you don't really belong to me." Peter said, "Lord, don't wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head."
Jesus answered, "People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet. And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you." Jesus knew who would betray him. That is why he said, "except for one of you."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Betrayal… sadly, most of us have experienced this in some form. Certainly we have not been betrayed on the scale of Judas’ disloyalty to Jesus… but we’ve all been betrayed in some way – and possibly, we have betrayed someone else.
Someone has told something we shared in confidence. A friend or loved one may have gladly accepted our hospitality or help… then spoke unkindly of us to others. We may have trusted someone with our heart, our home, and our assets, only to wake up one day and find that person – and all of our belongings – gone.
Regardless of the magnitude of our betrayal, we are left hurt, disappointed, confused… and sometimes angry. We wonder how this could have happened… how people could be so cruel and heartless… or evil… and we wonder how to handle it all. All we really have to do is read this scripture passage.
Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him before it ever happened! Yet He performed this act of love and humility – washing the feet of His disciples. In doing so, He was demonstrating something incredibly powerful. In order to belong to Jesus, we must be washed clean by Him – by the blood He shed for us on the cross. And… no matter what we have done in the past, He stands ready and able to cleans us.
You may be a really good person. You may do and say all the right things, go to church, read your Bible, and pray. You may give your time, talents, and money to serve others… and you may behave in a manner that is beyond reproach. Betrayal of another might be the furthest thing from your mind. But unless you humble yourself before Jesus and allow Him to wash you clean in His blood… to “wash your feet,” you are not truly free of sin and entitled to be His disciple – and to enjoy Eternal Life with Him someday.
There are two lessons here today –
- When you are betrayed by another, remember Jesus. Show the love and mercy He did. “Wash their feet” by praying for them and offering forgiveness (if only in your own heart). Lose the baggage of hurt and disappointment that the devil is trying to heap upon you.
- Invite Jesus to wash YOU clean of your sins. Humble yourself before Him and say, “LORD, I need you to cleanse me completely, so that I can truly follow You and serve you as a true disciple.”
How clean are your feet? Could you use another “foot washing” today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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