John 13:1-17
Be Still: Lord, open my heart to hear from your Word. Amen
Read: John 13:1-17
Jesus knew that the night before Passover would be his last night on earth before leaving this world to return to the Father’s side. All throughout his time with his disciples, Jesus had demonstrated a deep and tender love for them. And now he longed to show them the full measure of his love. (v1)
Encounter: I’m a big fan of The Office (U.S.). I’ve seen every episode many times; some I can practically recite word for word. I’ve even watched countless videos about the show’s hidden Easter eggs. I want to experience the fullness of that show! Now, imagine if I had only seen the finale – I would know how it concludes, but would not have experienced it completely.
There’s a difference between the finale of something and the fullness of something.
John 13 records Jesus washing his disciples' feet, and verse 1 gives us an insight into Jesus’ motive. He longed to show them the full measure of his love.
When it comes to God’s love, we could think of the series finale as the Cross on which Jesus would die for the sins of mankind. But the finale is not the full measure. By focusing solely on that moment, we can miss so much of the other things God longs to do for us because he loves us.
Here we see Jesus showing the full measure of the Father’s love by washing their feet. The lowest of jobs. The most practical, basic needs he longs to fulfil because he loves.
In a few turns of a page, we will see Jesus, innocent but condemned, hanging on a cross between two thieves; flesh hanging from his back. blood and sweat mingling as they drop from his head. Nails and thorns… this is how much God loves you. But in this passage, we see him kneeling, cleaning the feet of his disciples, wiping off the dust of the day. This is how much God loves.
Some have accepted the love displayed on the Cross, but they have never let Jesus wash their feet. They have trusted him with their souls but not their soles.
The fullness of his love is that he wants to do both, sacrificially saving our souls for eternal forgiveness and life – and humbly tending to our everyday needs.
Apply: Invite the Holy Spirit to 'wash your feet,' to show you the fullness of his love.
Devote: Thank you for loving me before I ever loved you.