Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 28, 2024

Date:   Holy Thursday

Scripture Text: John 13:1-15

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today, taken from the section of the Gospel of John that recounts Jesus’ final discourse with his disciples, tells us of Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples, modeling for them the servanthood needed for those who wish to follow Him. It isn’t about washing feet, it is about being willing to humbly give of one’s self in service to another out of love for the other.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Am I willing to put on the apron of humility to serve the LORD by serving others?

Praying:

LORD, Jesus Christ, You call us to follow You in faith, to hope in your promise, and to love with all our being. You modeled for us as our brother. Though the Son of God, You came to us and took on our human nature. You revealed to us “the Way and the Truth and the Life” to be found in You and in following in your footsteps, the footsteps of one who live bound by love of the Father and love for one another. Send the Spirit to increase our faith in You, to deepen our hope in You, and to harness our love for You and express it through our love of the Father and one another. Jesus, we do believe. Help our unbelief.