Maundy Thursday
Pause:
Before you start reading this devotional, take a moment to stop what you’re doing, slow down, and focus on Jesus.
Pray and ask him to open your eyes to see as you read the Scriptures, and to open your ears to hear as you wait on the leading of the Spirit.
Read:
John 13:1-20
“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. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.’”
Going Deeper:
Today, we’re celebrating Maundy Thursday. “Maundy,” from the Latin root of “mandate,” refers to Jesus’ new command he gave at his Last Supper: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34). While we have much to remember and rejoice over during Easter, Jesus also leaves us much to meditate on and enjoy from his final meal the night before his death.
On this night, Jesus performed one of his most beautiful and surprising acts of service: washing the feet of the disciples. The first few times I read this passage, I didn’t really understand what was so special about washing feet. It was an act of a humble servant, of course, but why was it so shocking that Peter protested so loudly?
Recently, I’m beginning to understand. For the first time in my life, I live among a culture where it’s expected that you take your shoes off at the door. We have all-white tile floors, and it becomes clear very quickly if someone has left their shoes on! We live near a desert, meaning that brown sandy dust is everywhere. Sometimes herds of sheep move through the streets, and there are plenty of stray dogs. There aren’t maintained sidewalks, so we often walk through streets and gutters. And when it rains hard, the sewers usually overflow into the roads. Not only do we take our shoes off at the door, but we usually rinse off our feet before we get into bed!
Imagine trudging through all that, and plenty more, while wearing sandals. And then imagine eating on the floor, with your feet right next to you, inches from your food. Washing someone’s feet wasn’t just a nice, humble gesture--it was serious dirty work.
Jesus gave us a clear reason for why he did such an uncomfortable, humiliating act: “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” (John 13:14-15). On the night before he died, one of Jesus’ greatest concerns was how we treated each other. His new commandment was to love one another as he has loved us. How, then, has he loved us?
Jesus loved us when we had filthy feet, and he loved us enough to wash them. Jesus loved us when we were still sinners, when we didn’t deserve it, and when we didn’t appreciate it. He served us when we were ignoring him and trying to make our own names greater. He loves us when we can offer nothing in return, and while we are hurting him. He loves us when we don’t apologize. He loves us in absurd, sacrificial, humiliating ways. And he tells us to do the same.
What might it look like to love someone in your life the way that Jesus has loved you? For some, it might look like initiating reconciliation even if you were the one who was wronged. For others, it might look like physically serving someone who is being ungrateful. I hope that God leads you in what it might look like for you! May Jesus show you new and beautiful ways that he loves you, and may his Spirit lead you toward loving one another.
Pray:
Respond to God in prayer by speaking to Him about what stood out to you from this passage this morning.
Listen:
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you this morning?
Apply:
What are you going to do in response to what God is saying to you from the text and the Spirit?