John 13:4,5,12-15 ESV
Maudy (feet washing) Thursday

“(Jesus) rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel,  tied it around his waist. 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. 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?  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 just as I have done to you.”

Jesus stopping to wash His disciples feet just hours before he would be beat unmercifully could only be done by a courageous, loving, caring Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Three things come from this display;

(1) For Jesus, it was the display of His humility and His servanthood. Yes, He is Lord, but He is also a servant, something people overlook about the Messiah.

(2) For the disciples, the washing of their feet was in direct contrast to their heart attitudes at that time. They had been arguing about who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom, So Jesus gave them an example to reconsider their attitudes.

(3) For us, washing feet is symbolic of our role in the body of Christ, who we are supposed to be, servants, A lesson we often forget. Giving way to attitudes and judgmental thinking.

Prayer:
Father, forgive us, we are at times just like the disciples were, thinking we are better than anyone else. At times we think we deserve honor for following You, when instead we need to learn how to be servants, following the example of Your Son.