John 13: 1-30 NKJV (Post below!!)
Link to Verses here! http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2013:1-30&version=NKJV
Let’s focus in on Jesus and Judas of Iscariot in this scene primarily.
Jesus knew His time was coming for when He would be put to death. He knew the hearts of His disciples at that given time. Jesus knew that Judas had the intentions to betray Jesus in the upcoming hours. But what Jesus does next is remarkable. Instead of having a private conversation with Judas asking why he would betray Him and telling Judas to not go through with it, Jesus takes a towel and a basin filled with water and washes His disciples’ feet.
Jesus sees His betrayer that would usher Him into His physical death, gets down on His knees, as would a servant, and washes Judas’ feet. From how I see it, Jesus looked into Judas’ eyes without an ounce of anger, hatred, or bitterness, but with unconditional love. Who has wronged us and we still have anger, hatred, or bitterness?
When Jesus finished washing His disciples’ feet, the disciples engage in what is known as the Last Supper. Jesus makes the statement that one disciple right in this room will betray Him. John asks Jesus who is the one and Jesus replies that the one he dips the bread and gives it to. Now in this culture, dipping the bread in wine was symbolic of honoring somebody; Jesus did this for Judas.
Jesus knew Judas would betray Him and yet Jesus washed his feet and treated him as the guest of honor. Why isn’t Jesus going after Judas for his wayward thinking? Why isn’t Jesus completely ignoring Judas in the washing of feet? I can understand washing your trusted friends but your betrayer? (Hope you could read my sarcasm)
Jesus knew the heart of Judas, but that didn’t stop Him from serving Judas. Jesus humbled Himself to the point of the lowliest slave and washed the grime off of Judas’ feet. Jesus could have said that He holds the dirt of Judas’ feet against him but instead washes his feet saying that He won’t even pay attention to the stains that are covering him. Jesus showed love and honor towards Judas even though He knows his heart. Jesus desires to serve others no matter what they have done or will do.
“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” -Verses 13-14. Jesus ushers all who call Him Lord and Teacher to wash one another’s feet. Whether the person is your best friend, parent, ex-girlfriend, boss, annoying neighbor who mows the lawn at sunrise, whoever it is, Jesus calls us to wash their feet. We need to serve them. Not have bitterness or strife but love and compassion. Not condemnation or hatred but grace and honor. How many times have we had the chance to show the Christ in us but our flesh got in the way? When have we been wronged and returned eye for an eye? We are to serve even when all of our fleshly impulses say have bitterness.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus calls us all to be servants to all. We aren’t to pick and choose depending on what somebody has done to us or how somebody acts, but serve them and love them right where they are. That is how all will know we are His disciples.
Be servants just as Christ served.
Skittles Fiddles and Lame Riddles 