2020 Daily Devotion - Day 16
This is Maundy Thursday. From time to time someone will ask, “What does Maundy mean?” Well, it comes from the Latin word for “command”. This is because on Maundy Thursday, Jesus not only had the Last Supper with His disciples, but He also washed their feet and “commanded” them to do the same to others.
John 13:1-17 RSV
Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you[b] are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “You are not all clean.”
When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you[b] are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “You are not all clean.”
When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Imagine, God incarnate humbles Himself in this way and serves His disciples by washing their feet. He is truly a “down to earth God”. Then He tells them if He, their Lord, has done this for them, they should do it for one another.
During this time of the Coronavirus, we are watching many in our nation, and around the world, serve us during this pandemic. From doctors and nurses to soldiers; from grocery store workers to volunteers bringing food to the elderly; we are watching thousands of people putting themselves in harm’s way to serve others. Aren’t we grateful for those who are serving us at this time?
During this time of the Coronavirus, we are watching many in our nation, and around the world, serve us during this pandemic. From doctors and nurses to soldiers; from grocery store workers to volunteers bringing food to the elderly; we are watching thousands of people putting themselves in harm’s way to serve others. Aren’t we grateful for those who are serving us at this time?
Then, Jesus says something that we cannot forget. Not only does He tell us to wash one another’s feet, but then He says we are blessed when we do it. It is not enough to watch others or simply to know we should serve others. The blessing comes when we actually do it. So, when this pandemic is over how will you serve others in Jesus name?
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, during this time of waiting and watching, fill our imagination with how You want to use us for Your purpose in the world on the other side of the Coronavirus. You want all Christ followers to serve You by bringing others to Christ through our serving. Give us a burden for serving you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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