Foot Washing
March24, 2005
Jn 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."
The teacher Jesus has given the example to follow. A lowly servant cleans the feet of the guests as a welcome and hospitality to the journeying visitors. The act of cleaning is a refreshing and renewing, the feet are dirty from the long journey. Again it is Peter who is overly zealous and wants at first not to allow his feet to be washed then more than what needs to be. Jesus hints at the sin of Judas by saying not all of you are clean. The great teacher does not reveal all but leaves it to those being taught to uncover the truth and discover further. Jesus knew at this time that he would be leaving those whom he was about to wash. The whole meaning of washing and being washed is related to baptism and also burial of the old self at the bottom of the water and birth of the new being in Christ as the newly cleansed self who is now no longer self centered. The leaving of the self centeredness is one of my meditation focuses for Holy Thursday.
Jn 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."
The teacher Jesus has given the example to follow. A lowly servant cleans the feet of the guests as a welcome and hospitality to the journeying visitors. The act of cleaning is a refreshing and renewing, the feet are dirty from the long journey. Again it is Peter who is overly zealous and wants at first not to allow his feet to be washed then more than what needs to be. Jesus hints at the sin of Judas by saying not all of you are clean. The great teacher does not reveal all but leaves it to those being taught to uncover the truth and discover further. Jesus knew at this time that he would be leaving those whom he was about to wash. The whole meaning of washing and being washed is related to baptism and also burial of the old self at the bottom of the water and birth of the new being in Christ as the newly cleansed self who is now no longer self centered. The leaving of the self centeredness is one of my meditation focuses for Holy Thursday.
posted by Joan Morris at 4:59 PM
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