Serving Everyone

Scripture – John 13:6-11: He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Washing feet, as Jesus was doing, was a servant’s job. It was an act of welcome offered by someone to their guests. It would certainly be a freshening gift to receive in those days of dusty roads and open sandals. My guess is it would be offered by someone with the means to employ a servant to actually do the foot washing. I also suspect these disciples – at least most of them – may never have experienced it themselves before this day. Yet here’s Jesus doing it, promising that “later you will understand.” A lesson is being taught. And part of that lesson is that He even washed the feet of the one He knew “was going to betray him.”

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) It’s easy to pick and choose who I will serve. It’s usually an unconscious choice I make based on my history with the person. Jesus knew everything about each of these disciples, and he treated them the same. How can I act differently? I will serve everyone I encounter today, whether I like them or not – whether I trust them or not.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, give me the grace and attitude to do that today. Help me treat people as I would like to be treated. Thank you for your help in that yesterday. Please keep growing within me today.