If you knew you only had one more meal to share with close family and friends, what would you do? What would you plan to eat, where would you plan to eat it, and what other activities would you try to squeeze in? Would you plan a big party at a banquet hall or offer to clean the bathrooms at church?
Let’s see how Jesus spent His last meal with His disciples…
John 13:1-17 1It was just
before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave
this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he
now showed them the full extent of his love. 2The
evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas
Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the
Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and
was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off
his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After
that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet,
drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6He
came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my
feet?" 7Jesus 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!" 10Jesus answered, "A person who has
had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are
clean, though not every one of you." 11For he knew who
was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12When
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. 14Now
that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash
one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you
should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no
servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who
sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if
you do them.
This is probably a familiar passage, but did you realize
that washing the disciples feet was one of the last things Jesus did the day before
His death? The rest of chapter 13 through chapter 17 include specific
instructions, promises, prophecies, prayers, and encouragement Jesus gave to
his disciples at this final dinner. So how are we, today, to do as Jesus
did?
I heard about one believer who decided he would wash the car
of those that visited his house. Even when two couples came to his house
just to carpool to a restaurant, he snuck outside and had their car washed
while his wife was interacting with them inside. Amazing!
What fellow believer will you and I humbly serve this Holy week?
How?
