We encourage you to read this devotion three times a
day. Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection
question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon
question for reflection. For the evening, take time to ponder how this
has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening
question. We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we
invite you to pray what is in your heart.
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. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then 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. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”10Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12After 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? 13You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little 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.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Reflection:
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
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. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then 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. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”10Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12After 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? 13You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little 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.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Reflection:
We celebrate this event every year on the Thursday before Easter, called Maundy Thursday. Maundy means "mandate or command." At that dinner Jesus gave the disciples a mandate saying, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." I worked as a hospital chaplain and I was often present with families as a loved one would depart this life and go on to the next. I observed what people would say to their loved ones right before death or before surgeries- what lasting thoughts they wanted to give their family and friends. Sometimes people told stories or recalled a favorite memory. Sometimes there was one last piece of advice or direction; often it was just "I love you." The disciples were Jesus' family, his loved ones, and Jesus knew this was the last conversation they would have before he was betrayed. These were his last words to them before his own death. His last words were to tell them how to love and how to lead when he was gone because he knew he was going to the Father. Jesus also showed the disciples how to live out his final words to them: how to love one another. He set an example by bending down below his "station" as their teacher and leader and acting instead as a servant: offering a act of hospitality and love. He showed them love through service. The example he set was to express your love with actions even if it means humbling yourself; this is what Jesus did throughout his life and ministry.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can I follow the example of Jesus and better express my love through service?
2. What barriers are in my way (or what barriers do I create) that keep me from washing the feet of another and carrying out Jesus' example of service?
3. How have I been a recipient of acts of love and service?
Prayer: Thank you, God for showing us in Jesus how to love one another as you have loved us. Help me to reject the barriers of titles and pride and instead seek to provide acts of love and compassion for all I meet. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can I follow the example of Jesus and better express my love through service?
2. What barriers are in my way (or what barriers do I create) that keep me from washing the feet of another and carrying out Jesus' example of service?
3. How have I been a recipient of acts of love and service?
Prayer: Thank you, God for showing us in Jesus how to love one another as you have loved us. Help me to reject the barriers of titles and pride and instead seek to provide acts of love and compassion for all I meet. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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