John 13:1-35 New Revised Standard Version
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 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 got up from the table,[a] took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share 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, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,[b] but is entirely clean. And you[c] are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants[d] are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him,[j] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This is such a powerful day! When we meet in Church normally the foot washing, celebration of the Last Supper and the watch of the Passion afterwards is so moving. I wonder if this year the silent, tingling will come through in what we are all doing, may be it will be more powerful than normal.
The Lord and the disciples shared in that last meal together to celebrate the Passover but what we see in the foot washing is for God's own Son to be amongst his own people, the disciples, sharing in a supreme act of humility. Jesus the servant washing the feet of the disciples himself.
We are all often squeamish about our feet being on show and hide them away in socks and boots! Is it the way they look or are we afraid they might smell? In Jesus' days the people would be used to feet washing, as we are about hand washing, particularly in these days of Covid-19 and we wash our hands raw.
Jesus and the disciples would have had their feet washed more than likely on entry to the upper room prior to the meal. After supper Jesus chooses to take a towel and wash all of the disciples feet. This is an act of humility - that Christ would stoop and wash feet. This is more over an act of symbolism of the death and resurrection of the Lord.
Are you happy to have your feet washed?
Are you more bothered about "the warts and all" of your feet?
How do you feel if you have had your feet washed in church?
Would you wash someone's feet today, as we walk with Christ but amongst this Coronavirus?
Prayer
Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey, and companions on the road; we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you; I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony, born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.
Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
Words: Richard A. M. Gillard , 1977