John 13:1-38

Be Still: Lord, I surrender all distraction. Still my heart and mind so I can hear you speak. Remind me of the depth of your sacrificial love for me. Fill me with your presence in this moment. Amen.

Read: John 13:1-38

‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.' (v8)

Encounter: Although, in Jesus' day, feet washing happened often, it was an act usually performed by those of low status. And yet in this passage we see the one who they call ‘Lord’, humbling himself in a way that the disciples could not fully comprehend.

Peter’s outburst may outwardly seem like an honouring thing to say, but beneath it may have been a heart struggling to receive.

When Jesus says, ‘unless I wash you, you have no part with me’, he is really saying ‘you think it’s your service to me that justifies you, when really it’s my service to you’. Jesus lets Peter know that if he is unable to receive his sacrificial love (a signpost to the gift of salvation), he won’t be able to be in an intimate relationship with him.

Peter missed the point in that moment, and so can we in small ways each day. How?

• When we feel we must earn Jesus’ approval - we at times measure our worth by how useful we are. We sometimes work for his validation instead of resting in his grace. We, like Peter, can struggle to comprehend an unconditional love.

• When we hide the parts of our lives that feel too messy - I can’t imagine the disciples all had the most beautifully clean feet to wash, but it doesn’t put Jesus off; he gets low and washes away the dirt. Jesus turns towards our mess, not away from it.

• When we believe we are already clean and not in need of help - In some areas of our life we can be self-sufficient, or at times prone to spotting other people’s ‘dirty feet’ and ignoring our own.

 This passage teaches us that intimacy with Jesus starts with humbly receiving the transformative love that he has for us.

Apply: Take five minutes today to simply sit with Jesus. Ask him what he wants to give you, then wait, and receive whatever he has to offer.

Devote: Thank you Jesus, for your unconditional love. Soften my heart to receive that love today.