This is Holy Week for most of Christianity. (Orthodox Christians use the Julian Calendar so they will celebrate Easter on May 5 this year.) Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday commemorates the day when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and gave them a new command: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn 13:34-35). Mandatum is the Latin word for commandment; hence Maundy Thursday or Commandment Thursday.
John 13 begins,
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (NIV)
When preparing to move, some people pull away from those around them. They begin setting their mind on their new home and the people they will meet so they have less mental space for their current location. For example, high school seniors preparing for life in college may spend less time studying because their mind is partially in another place. Jesus, however, knowing that he would soon depart and go to the Father, didn’t pull away emotionally from his followers. Instead “he loved them to the end.”
After mentioning Judas’ betrayal, John continues,
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (vv. 3-5)
Again, John says, “Jesus knew.” Here’s what Jesus knew from verses 1 and 3:
- the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father
- the Father had put all things under his power
- he had come from God and was returning to God
In other words, Jesus knew:
- the time of his death was near
- his destination after death
- his God-given universal authority, and
- his location before coming to earth—”he had come from God”
Notice that John repeats the destination idea twice: Jesus knows that he is going to the Father or “returning to God.” Jesus knows that he is going home.
With all of this knowledge about himself, what does Jesus do?
The opposite of what we would expect.
I mean finish this sentence with typical human behavior:
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal . . .
What comes to mind?
How about,
“so he got up from the meal and declared his greatness.”
“so he got up from the meal then displayed his great power.”
“so he got up from the meal and taught earth-shattering wisdom.”
Instead Jesus “got up from the meal took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (vv. 3-5).
This is how Jesus loved his disciples to the end—he became their servant and washed their dirty feet.
The story concludes with these words:
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (vv. 12-17)
Imagine the disciples washing each other’s feet because their Lord had washed theirs.
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I hope you have a meaningful week.
Here are more posts on this special weekend.
After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I served as a high school Bible teacher in Asia. I enjoy traveling, writing, and playing the drums. For a deep dive into church history and the character of God, see my book Surprised by Hell.