IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

Date: Dec. 31, 2019

Passage

John 13:1-17

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

13:1 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. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: John 13:14

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

1. Jesus loves his own (1-11)

When Jesus was about to leave the world and was bearing the weight of Judas' impending betrayal, his thoughts turned to his disciples. Jesus loved his disciples. Jesus got up from the dinner table and began to wash his disciples' feet. Peter objected but Jesus insisted. Their bodies would be clean by Jesus' death and resurrection. Even still, they needed a regular cleansing of sin, represented by the foot washing.

2. Jesus has set an example (12-17)

Jesus further applied his washing of the disciples' feet to their relationships with each other. 11 of the 12 were spiritually clean but their daily sins and selfishness could break the bond of unity amongst them. So just as Jesus washed their feet, they ought to wash one another's feet. Practically this meant forgiving, being gracious and serving each other. Jesus, as their Lord and Teacher, had done the same for them.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for washing away our sins. Help me to forgive and serve my brothers and sisters as you have done for us.

One Word: Do as Jesus has done

Daily Bread

The Lord Judges the Proud

Psalm 75:1-10

Key Verse: 75:2

“At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity.

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