1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour
had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own
who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, when
the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's
son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things
into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose
from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel.
5 Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet,
and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. 6 He came to
Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus
answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will
understand." 8 Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus
answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." 9 Simon Peter
said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10
Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for
his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one
of you." 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "You
are not all clean." 12 When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments,
and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to
you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought
to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you
also should do as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a
servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than
he who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Meditation: As Jesus' hour of humiliation draws near he reveals to his disciples the supreme humility which shaped the love he had for them. He stoops to perform a menial task reserved for servants -- the washing of smelly, dirty feet. In stooping to serve his disciples Jesus knew he would be betrayed by one of them and that the rest would abandon him through disloyalty. Such knowledge could have easily led to bitterness or hatred. Jesus met the injury of betrayal and disloyalty with the greatest humility and supreme love. Jesus loved his disciples to the very end, even when they failed him and forsook him. The Lord loves each of us unconditionally. His love has power to set us free to serve others with Christ-like compassion and humility. Does the love of Christ rule in your heart and thoughts and in your actions?
"Lord Jesus, your love conquers all and never fails. Help me to love others freely, with heart-felt compassion , kindness and goodness. Where there is injury, may I sow peace rather than strife."