Thought of the Day !!

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?
John 13:3-5, 12

We've all heard about how Jesus washed his disciples' feet. I read this scripture in its entirety last Sunday and asked my congregations who it was that Jesus left out. Do you know who it was?

The answer is nobody. The verses before and after these clearly show that Jesus knew what was going on with Judas.

2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him.

10Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

Judas, as we know, betrayed Jesus into the Romans' hands. Yet Jesus washed Judas' feet. Peter would deny Jesus three times before morning. Yet Jesus washed Peter's feet. John and James, along with Peter would fall asleep when Jesus needed them more than ever to keep guard and pray. Yet Jesus washed their feet. Each disciple would abandon Jesus by running away. Yet Jesus washed their feet.

Jesus wasn't merely cleaning dirty smelly feet. He was teaching how the disciples (as well as us) should serve. The lesson here is that we are not only to serve those we like or those who can do for us. We are to serve everyone. Jesus served those who would betray, deny and even abandon him. Would we be willing to go that far for those that might do the same for us given the chance?

In the love of Christ,
greg