DAY THREE
Serve one
another . . .

What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.
JOHN 13:7

OF ALL THE TIMES we see the bowing knees of Jesus, none is so precious as when he kneels before his disciples and washes their feet.

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing . . . and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13:2–5 NIV).

It has been a long day. Jerusalem is packed with Passover guests, most of whom clamor for a glimpse of the Teacher. The spring sun is warm. The streets are dry. And the disciples are a long way from home. A splash of cool water would be refreshing.

The disciples enter, one by one, and take their places around the table. On the wall hangs a towel, and on the floor sits a pitcher and a basin. Any one of the disciples could volunteer for the job, but not one does.

After a few moments, Jesus stands and removes his outer garment. He wraps a servant’s girdle around his waist, takes up the basin, and kneels before one of the disciples. He unlaces a sandal and gently lifts the foot and places it in the basin, covers it with water, and begins to bathe it. One by one, one grimy foot after another, Jesus works his way down the row.

In Jesus’ day the washing of feet was a task reserved not just for servants but for the lowest of servants. Every circle has its pecking order, and the circle of household workers was no exception. The servant at the bottom of the totem pole was expected to be the one on his knees with the towel and basin.

In this case the one with the towel and basin is the king of the universe. Hands that shaped the stars now wash away filth. Fingers that formed mountains now massage toes. And the one before whom all nations will one day kneel now kneels before his disciples. Hours before his own death, Jesus’ concern is singular. He wants his disciples to know how much he loves them. More than removing dirt, Jesus is removing doubt.

Jesus knows what will happen to his hands at the crucifixion. Within twenty-four hours they will be pierced and lifeless. Of all the times we’d expect him to ask for the disciples’ attention, this would be one. But he doesn’t.

You can be sure Jesus knows the future of these feet he is washing. These twenty-four feet will not spend the next day following their master, defending his cause. These feet will dash for cover at the flash of a Roman sword. Only one pair of feet won’t abandon him in the garden. One disciple won’t desert him at Gethsemane—Judas won’t even make it that far! He will abandon Jesus that very night at the table.

I looked for a Bible translation that reads, “Jesus washed all the disciples’ feet except the feet of Judas,” but I couldn’t find one. What a passionate moment when Jesus silently lifts the feet of his betrayer and washes them in the basin! Within hours the feet of Judas, cleansed by the kindness of the one he will betray, will stand in Caiaphas’s court.

Behold the gift Jesus gives his followers! He knows what these men are about to do. He knows they are about to perform the vilest act of their lives. By morning they will bury their heads in shame and look down at their feet in disgust. And when they do, he wants them to remember how his knees knelt before them and he washed their feet. He wants them to realize those feet are still clean. “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later” (John 13:7 NCV).

Remarkable. He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it.

1. In Psalm 51:1, we find a prayer that all our hearts can echo. What did David ask God to do for him?

2. Those who belong to God are called to do as he does, which means that we, too, are to be forgiving. What does Colossians 3:13 tell us to do, and why?

3. One reason we forgive is that we have been forgiven, but it’s difficult not to want to put a limit on grace. Where did Peter want to draw the line, according to Matthew 18:21–22? How did Jesus answer?

4. We are urged to extend grace to those around us. What do the following verses tell us about giving grace to one another?

Colossians 4:6

1 Peter 5:5

5. As believers, we are called to show one another the same mercy, patience, and kindness that Jesus extended. In fact, John 13:35 says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

• What does Psalm 133:1 say is good and pleasant?

• How does Paul direct us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11?

• According to Ephesians 4:32, what attitude must we take toward our brothers and sisters in the Lord?

But I’m not Jesus, you object. I could never extend grace as he did. The hurt is so deep. The wounds are so numerous. Just seeing the person causes me to cringe. Perhaps that is your problem. Perhaps you are seeing the wrong person or at least too much of the wrong person. Remember, the secret of being just like Jesus is “fixing our eyes” on him. Try shifting your glance away from the one who hurt you and setting your eyes on the one who has saved you.

Note the promise of John, “But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin” (1 John 1:7 NCV).

“If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14–15 NCV).

Jesus washes our feet for two reasons. The first is to give us mercy; the second is to give us a message, and that message is simply this: Jesus offers unconditional grace; we are to offer unconditional grace. The mercy of Christ preceded our mistakes; our mercy must precede the mistakes of others. Those in the circle of Christ had no doubt of his love; those in our circles should have no doubts about ours.

6. Our lives are interconnected with those around us, and we are repeatedly called to live lives characterized by a love for the brethren.

• What difficult thing does Romans 12:10 ask us to do?

• How do we learn to be loving, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:9?

• According to Hebrews 13:1, how long do we have to keep it up?

7. Describe a time or situation in which you served someone you didn’t particularly like. How did that go? What was the response? How did that make you feel?