OUR FATHER WHOSE SON WAS GOING TO RETURN TO HIM

The book of John chapter 13 verses 1 - 17 records the last supper that Jesus shared with His disciples. This event was to celebrate the Passover meal that was a customary in Israel to commemorate the salvation of God from the angel of death by the marking the households of israel with the blood of a lamb. 

This gathering was held on the night was was to lead up to the day that Jesus was going to be arrested and put to death.

When the meal was complete, Jesus, in a demontration of humility and obedience to His Father, got a basin of water and a towel and knelt down to wash the desciples feet. Peter objected to the Jesus washing His feet but Jesus pursuaded him to have his feet washed so that he could participate in the plan of salvation that was being carried out before their eyes.

During this time, Jesus was aware of the betrayal that was being plotted by Judas and knew that it was the mechanism by which He was going to fall into the hands of the authorities and ultimately be killed and return to the Father.

The passage reads this way;

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you [b]know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus, in this final act of servitude for his disciples, set an example for us to maintain a stance of humility and service for those around us and emulate his servant heart.

Holy is the Lord.

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