Lenten Series
Maundy Thursday | Thursday, March 28th
John 13:1-17
1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Reflection
Today is Maundy Thursday when we commemorate the last night of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus. On this night one of the last things He did before He was betrayed was celebrate the Passover supper with His disciples. During the meal the Lord did something off-script from the traditional Passover seder. He got up, took off His outer clothing, wrapped a towel around His waist and began to wash His disciples feet.
This action encapsulated the mission of His life, not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many…sacrifice and serving. He humbled himself to enact a menial task relegated to the lowest of servants in that day. He gave us an example to follow, the King of Kings bowing low to wash dirty feet. We are left with this indelible image from one of His last free moments. We are challenged by the Lord’s model of sacrifice and service.
But there is something else that strikes me as I meditate on this Maundy Thursday passage. Peter questioned Jesus. He had a problem with His display of humility and service. Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet. Peter wanted to take a pass, basically saying, “I don’t need you to do this for me, Lord.” I catch a whiff of human nature in his rebuff. There is a part of each of us that recoils at the fact that we need a savior, that we need Jesus to wash us clean. We cannot do this ourselves. We cannot make ourselves good enough to be acceptable to God. The Lord has put his finger on the point of pride in Peter and all of us. Someone must wash us clean.
The good news of Maundy Thursday is Someone has made our salvation possible. Jesus has saved us by grace. He freely gives what we do not deserve and we can not earn. Our job is to simply receive, and be thankful. Lent is about humility, sacrifice and service, but it is also about grace.
This action encapsulated the mission of His life, not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many…sacrifice and serving. He humbled himself to enact a menial task relegated to the lowest of servants in that day. He gave us an example to follow, the King of Kings bowing low to wash dirty feet. We are left with this indelible image from one of His last free moments. We are challenged by the Lord’s model of sacrifice and service.
But there is something else that strikes me as I meditate on this Maundy Thursday passage. Peter questioned Jesus. He had a problem with His display of humility and service. Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet. Peter wanted to take a pass, basically saying, “I don’t need you to do this for me, Lord.” I catch a whiff of human nature in his rebuff. There is a part of each of us that recoils at the fact that we need a savior, that we need Jesus to wash us clean. We cannot do this ourselves. We cannot make ourselves good enough to be acceptable to God. The Lord has put his finger on the point of pride in Peter and all of us. Someone must wash us clean.
The good news of Maundy Thursday is Someone has made our salvation possible. Jesus has saved us by grace. He freely gives what we do not deserve and we can not earn. Our job is to simply receive, and be thankful. Lent is about humility, sacrifice and service, but it is also about grace.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that Jesus stooped to wash His disciples feet and modeled for us sacrifice and service. Help us to follow His example each day as You give opportunities. Thank you for your amazing grace. Jesus gave His life so that we can have life in His name even though we are undeserving. May we be drawn into a deeper understanding of Your grace this Lenten season and be transformed by Your love.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Thank you that Jesus stooped to wash His disciples feet and modeled for us sacrifice and service. Help us to follow His example each day as You give opportunities. Thank you for your amazing grace. Jesus gave His life so that we can have life in His name even though we are undeserving. May we be drawn into a deeper understanding of Your grace this Lenten season and be transformed by Your love.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen