John 13:14–16: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 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.”

March 20th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Jesus was teaching His apostles, who would be the leaders of the early church, that they were to take the position of servants. Since they had consistently failed to serve one another up to this point, Jesus decided that rather than give them a lecture, He would give them a living example. Humility was (and is) to be a defining and identifying mark of the Messiah’s followers. Four verses earlier it says, “For he knew who was going to betray him” (John 13:11). Judas was there full of deceit and hypocrisy, getting ready to stab Jesus in the back. But Jesus did not distance himself nor point his finger at Judas and say to him, “Are you crazy, after all that I’ve done for you?” Instead He served Judas to the end.

No one has ever sinned as greatly as Judas, because the depth of his sin is measured by the innocence of his victim. He was 1 of 12 men who received one of the greatest privileges ever afforded any human being. For 3 years he lived alongside the Son of God, hearing each teaching and seeing each miracle. Judas had the benefit of looking directly into Jesus’ eyes and hearing the audible sound of Jesus’ voice. Judas received godly truth upon truth from the mouth of the Lord of all creation. But instead of surrendering, he hardened his heart and sold out the Messiah. He willingly rejected God’s love and trampled God’s grace. But Jesus still washed Judas’ feet. Amazing! Can we wash the feet of our enemies? Will we serve someone even though we know he or she will not return the kindness? This is not about getting our feet washed; it is about our character being transformed.

“LORD, help us to first see those who we need to forgive, and then give us the strength of character to do so.”