Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
John 13:1-5
John 13:1-5
The Most Tender Act of Love
Jesus knew that everything was going to change tonight. It was Thursday evening, and He was meeting with His disciples to eat dinner together one last time. He knew that in just a few hours He was going to be arrested on false charges, brought before the Temple authorities, and tortured.
When they were finally all together, Jesus did something that surprised the disciples. He took off His robe, got down on His knees, and began to wash their feet. Normally, feet washing was something that the servants did. After long days of walking around barefoot or in sandals, their feet probably would have been pretty gross and cleaning them would not have been a fun job. Yet, here was Jesus, King of the world and son of God, cleaning the feet of His disciples.
When they finally starting eating, Jesus told them what was about to happen. He passed bread around and told them that this was like His body – it’s going to be broken. Then He passed the wine and said that it was like His blood – it’s about to be spilled. He predicted that before the night was over, one of them will have betrayed Him, and the rest of them will have abandoned Him.
When they were finished eating, Jesus took the disciples to the garden of Gethsemane so that He could spend time praying to gather His strength for what was to come. When He had finished praying, Judas led the temple guards to Jesus, and they arrested Him.
One of the most remarkable things about this day is the way that Jesus treats Judas. Jesus knows that just a day earlier, Judas agreed to betray Him for a measly sum of 30 silver coins. He also knew that Judas was about to lead guards to arrest Him, which would lead to His death on the cross. Yet He still shows a tender act of love to Him by washing His feet. Jesus’ capacity for love and His ability to forgive was so great, that He humbled Himself to serve the man betrayed Him.
If Jesus can show this kind of grace to Judas, how do you think Jesus feels about you when you make mistakes or sin?
When they were finally all together, Jesus did something that surprised the disciples. He took off His robe, got down on His knees, and began to wash their feet. Normally, feet washing was something that the servants did. After long days of walking around barefoot or in sandals, their feet probably would have been pretty gross and cleaning them would not have been a fun job. Yet, here was Jesus, King of the world and son of God, cleaning the feet of His disciples.
When they finally starting eating, Jesus told them what was about to happen. He passed bread around and told them that this was like His body – it’s going to be broken. Then He passed the wine and said that it was like His blood – it’s about to be spilled. He predicted that before the night was over, one of them will have betrayed Him, and the rest of them will have abandoned Him.
When they were finished eating, Jesus took the disciples to the garden of Gethsemane so that He could spend time praying to gather His strength for what was to come. When He had finished praying, Judas led the temple guards to Jesus, and they arrested Him.
One of the most remarkable things about this day is the way that Jesus treats Judas. Jesus knows that just a day earlier, Judas agreed to betray Him for a measly sum of 30 silver coins. He also knew that Judas was about to lead guards to arrest Him, which would lead to His death on the cross. Yet He still shows a tender act of love to Him by washing His feet. Jesus’ capacity for love and His ability to forgive was so great, that He humbled Himself to serve the man betrayed Him.
If Jesus can show this kind of grace to Judas, how do you think Jesus feels about you when you make mistakes or sin?