An Example Set

Assuring Hope
Jesus, the Promised Servant-leader

John 13:3-16 (The Message)
 ^3-6Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"
 ⁷Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."
 ⁸Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!"
   Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."
 ⁹"Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!"
 ^10-12Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.
 ^12-17Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

For Reflection Question.  If one part of us is dirty, does it mean that the whole of us is dirty?  Perhaps one way to look at this familiar passage is to washing the dirty part to preserve the cleanliness of the whole body.  Is it true that we will always have dirty feet even if our body is clean?  Is Judas's failure to be cleansed much different from Peter' dirtiness in denial?  Jesus cleanses everyone's feet.  Cleansed by the cross and by His resurrection.

Pray
help us to wash each others feet as Christ has shown us.  Help us to offer again and again the cleansing sanctuary that is Christ our Lord.