Lent Day 21: Being Washed by Him (John 13:2-5)

Lent Day 21

Being Washed by Him

John 13:2-5

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

◇ During the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. It's an action that seems quite out of place. To wash feet while eating? It's a perplexing behavior.

But that's not the only strange thing. It's not customary for a teacher to wash the feet of his disciples. It would be understandable if a disciple washed the teacher's feet, but it's quite unheard of for a teacher to wash the disciple's feet. Moreover, in Jewish tradition, washing feet was a servant's job. When guests arrived, servants prepared water for washing hands and feet, as it was part of the Jewish rites of purification. They did this because upon returning from outside, they might have touched or stepped on something unclean, so they washed their hands, feet, and ears. Can you imagine a teacher washing feet that might be unclean?

It seems Jesus was in a hurry. He was clear about why he had come and that he would soon return to the Father. He wanted to convey the reason for his presence on earth. Perhaps that's why he abruptly began to wash his disciples' feet during the meal.

Washing the disciples' feet went beyond cleaning dusty feet; it was about cleansing their sins. The teacher was taking on the task of washing away the disciples' sins. Jesus had to wash away sins that they could not cleanse themselves.

Peter strongly resisted Jesus washing his feet. Peter did not understand why Jesus was doing this.

"‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’" (verse 8)

Jesus told the resistant Peter, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." Jesus washed their feet out of love for his disciples. Out of love, he would shed his blood on the cross to cleanse their sins. If Jesus had not washed Peter's feet, as he would later wash away sin with his blood, what relationship could there be between the Lord and Peter?

The Lord, who washed the disciples' feet, wants to wash our feet as well. He desires to cleanse us thoroughly. He wants to be with us in our state of cleanliness. Do not hesitate to entrust your feet to the Lord. Do not hold back because you feel too dirty. The Lord will be more than happy to cleanse you.

God, I entrust my dirty feet to you. Cleanse them, I pray! Holy Spirit, lead me in truth. Amen!