John 13

This devotional was produced by members of our youth group. Poppy and Julie read the passage, the devotional was written and read by Amalia and Julie created the accompanying drawing.

Jesus washes his disciples' feet
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

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 round 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 round him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?'

7 Jesus replied, 'You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'

8 'No,' said Peter, 'you shall never wash my feet.'

Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.'

9 'Then, Lord,' Simon Peter replied, 'not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!'

10 Jesus answered, 'Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.' 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. 'Do you understand what I have done for you?' he asked them. 13 'You call me "Teacher" and "Lord", and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus predicts his betrayal
18 'I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil this passage of Scripture: "He who shared my bread has turned against me."

19 'I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.'

21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, 'Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.'

22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, 'Ask him which one he means.'

25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, 'Lord, who is it?'

26 Jesus answered, 'It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.' Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, 'What you are about to do, do quickly.' 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Jesus predicts Peter's denial
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, 'Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33 'My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going, you cannot come.

34 'A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.'

36 Simon Peter asked him, 'Lord, where are you going?'

Jesus replied, 'Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.'

37 Peter asked, 'Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.'

38 Then Jesus answered, 'Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!

In John 13, it talks about how Jesus washes his disciples' feet. The disciples were shocked when Jesus offered to wash their feet. In the eyes of the disciples, Jesus was a leader, their king even. He was doing a servant's job voluntarily, and this confused Peter. And yet, when Peter questioned Jesus, he responded by saying that they would have 'no part with him' unless he let him wash their feet.

Jesus knew two of his disciples would go on to betray him yet he didn't embarrass or dismiss them. He washed their feet too. He loved them no matter what.

For me, I've always been under the impression that Jesus was all-knowing, and I don't disagree with that. But the thought of Jesus metaphorically washing my feet scares me in the same way that it concerned Peter. It's hard to feel like I deserve it.

But at the same time, this verse is telling us that no matter how high or low our social status is, we are all equal and we as human beings shouldn't treat people differently. It teaches us that Jesus loves all of us unconditionally and his sacrifice for us, for everyone, shows us that.

We should never feel like we don't deserve Jesus' love and mercy. We shouldn't be ashamed to ask Jesus to forgive us for the mistakes we've made because he's the Servant King - it's what he came to do.

Let's pray.

Dear Jesus,

You knew two of your disciples would betray you and you still didn't embarrass or dismiss them. Guide us to follow in your footsteps, to forgive even when we know someone has done wrong.

Jesus, our servant King, help us to lead and serve like you did and treat all people as equal.

Help us to come to you when we mess up and are in need of your love and mercy. Thank you that you always love us and always forgive us.

Amen