Jesus and his disciples bathe in preparation for what will be their last supper together. As they walk down the road to the upper room, perhaps their minds are on the preparation for Passover. They climb the steps and settle in to their lounge positions around the table, but Jesus has other things on his mind.

Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. John 13:1

The full extent of his love. Isn’t that beautiful? Oh, that we could comprehend “the full extent of his love.”

Jesus often said, “My time has not yet come.” But now the time had come. The very next afternoon, he would be hanging on a Roman cross. He also knew that the days ahead were going to be difficult for his disciples. The time had come to cement attitudes in the minds and hearts of these followers—humility and servanthood.

Jesus gets up from the table and, apparently without a word, takes off his outer cloak. Evidently, there wasn’t a servant nearby to wash their feet when they came in, so Jesus takes a towel and wraps it around his waist. He picks up a pitcher of water and pours the water into a basin. 

As I picture this scene, I imagine the disciples chatting softly to one another in small clumps of conversations around the table. One notices Jesus and wonders what he is doing, then another and another. Perhaps they look at each other with questioning furrowed brows. Another answers with raised eyebrows and raised shoulders as if to say, “I don’t know.” By this time, perhaps some have begun to sit up from their lounging positions.

Jesus carries his basin to the nearest disciple and stoops to wash his feet. Jesus unwraps the towel,  lifts one foot out of the water, and dries it with his towel—then the other foot. He moves the basin to the next man and repeats the process. As he moves around the circle, the next few men get the idea and sit up. Perhaps they hang their heads now, as they consider that one of them should have thought to do this.

The silence is broken by none other than Simon Peter,

“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 

“You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“No, you shall never wash my feet,”

“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” John 13:6-8

Keep in mind that this is before Judas leaves the room, so Jesus also kneels in front of his betrayer as well. 

After he makes the rounds, he returns the towel and basin and puts his cloak back on. He sits back down and perhaps looks around the table eye to eye with them once again.

“Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:12-15

Did they catch this vivid illustration? Did Peter remember this humility lesson when he heard the cock crow or when he landed in prison after speaking out in the Temple? Jesus was preparing their hearts. What cleansing preparation does he have for you this Easter?

~ Joyce ~