Daily Devotions – Washing Feet

Daily Devotions – Washing Feet

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

John 13:1-17 (NIV)
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 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 everyone 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.

 

In your spiritual life, who has demonstrated what it means to ‘wash feet’?

 

Precious Savior, as You washed Your disciples’ feet You demonstrated the full extent of Your love, knowing full well that within hours they would betray You, deny You and abandon You. The dirt on the feet is just a symbol of the dirt that’s inside the soul needing forgiveness and cleansing from sin. As You washed their feet, You were explaining the cross. Your act of humility actually cleansed the disciples’ hearts of selfish ambition, killed their pride, and taught them the lesson of love. The act of washing one another’s feet is certainly a picture of the love that we should have for one another in Your Body.  Love is a decision to treat people the way that You would treat them. By being kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as You have forgiven us, it is a form of washing feet. If we love people, we will be willing to serve them. I have been thinking of people who have impressed me over the years with their servant heart and servant spirit. It doesn’t matter in what manner they served, they each possess a servant attitude of the heart. Having a servant’s heart is to perform humble acts of service to those who don’t expect it and are unable to repay it. It is seeing a need and taking the initiative to meet that need. Thank You for coming to this world to serve rather than be served. Thank you for paying the price for my sins with Your death on the cross.  Lord, give me a humble heart to serve. Provide refreshment and relief to those who are burdened through my acts of kindness. Take away any pride that would prevent me from responding in love. Allow me to see others through Your eyes. Help me to love others as You love me. Thank you for equipping me to increase my love for others as I obey Your leading to wash their feet. Help me to follow Your example, not just in words but also in actions. Show me whose feet should I wash this week.  Amen