Daily Word Of God
John 13:4-9, 12-15
Jesus got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘Never!’ said Peter. ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ said Simon Peter ‘not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!’
When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. ‘Do you understand’, he said, ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- To be disciples of Jesus, we must be washed “clean” of our sins of pride and different forms of self-centeredness so that we can be open to the Holy Spirit’s promptings to spread the Good News of God’s Salvation to others.
- When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He performed the task of a slave. This is never done in Jewish culture. Jesus wants us to know that to serve Him we need to be humble like Him, even to the point of dying for our faith.
- Jesus, who set an example of humble service for us to follow, instructs us “that you also should do as I have done to you”.