JOHN 13:1-17; 34-35  Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then 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. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, `Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ 7Jesus answered, `You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ 8Peter said to him, `You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, `Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ 9Simon Peter said to him, `Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ 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.’

12 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? 13You call me Teacher and Lord-and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

“Where I am going, you cannot come.” 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

The entire Gospel of John can be summed up in this hospitable act of friendship where the master becomes the servant to his own servants.  Do we understand?  Where do we locate ourselves in the story of the dirty foot washing?  This passage is a good reminder for any church that begins to think too much of itself.  Are we arguing over who is the greatest?  We are not here to lord it over one another… we are here to wash one another’s feet! 

Try not to take this too literally.  It’s not about feet!  “Do not be afraid to stoop down and offer the most humble service imaginable to one another.  It is no more than I have done for you.”  

To offer reflections on this day, go to www.fccorange.com/blog 
(Other texts: Exodus 12:1-4,11-14; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)