Scripture
John 13 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 round 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 round him.
Thoughts
This is one of the most radical things Jesus ever did. It was one thing to wash the feet of those he knew would follow him, but to wash the feet of Judas with the same tenderness and care that he did the others demonstrates the depth and breadth of Jesus’ love for us.
Judas. The same person he knew was going to betray him, and assist in his martyr’s death, Jesus took the time to clean his dirty feet. Jesus overcame the emotional pain of knowing this man was going to deliver him to the soldiers and cared for him as much as he cared for John, for Peter, or the other disciples. Here is Jesus showing us how God cares for each of us, not as some distant king who commands from a distance, but who sees our dirt, our filth, and comes himself to wash us clean.
Jesus doesn’t use his knowledge of Judas to isolate him, but to one last time bathe him in a supernatural love.
Far too often I find it easy to dismiss someone who I believe wronged me, whether by their angry words, their accusations, or their coldness to me. If I am not careful, I will diminish them as a person, and view them as a one dimensional villain. But not as a child of God, created in His image, just like you and me.
As with everything Jesus did, there on that last night with the disciples Jesus teaches us how to love–with humility, with respect, with the focus on the one being loved. And he teaches us how to love our enemies, not with empty words but with one of the most humbling deeds he could have done. The Word made flesh, the Son of the Almighty, caring for each of his disciples.
Reflection
Who in my life yanks my chain? Who in my life do I try to avoid? Father, help us surrender our anger, our frustration, our coldness towards those who we hold in contempt, and replace the anger, frustration and coldness with putting them in prayer at your feet.
Personal Prayer
Father, open my heart to love those in my life as you love them. May your spirit put them on my heart until I lift them up in prayer to you, and ask you to cover them with your peace, and fill their hearts with a deep love for you.
Shared Prayer Focus
Father, forgive us for our anger at each other, forgive our callous, offhanded dismissal of those we don’t agree with as if they are less than human.
