Lent Devotions

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April 10: Footwashing

Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT

Read: John 13:1-17

He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet. (v. 5 ESV)

Mike Rowe has become a television star by hosting a program called Dirty Jobs. Had he lived in Bible times, he could have done an episode on footwashing.

Apparently there was no servant in the Upper Room to wash everyone’s feet before the Passover meal. Maybe the disciples wondered among themselves whether one of them ought to volunteer. But no one did. It was too demeaning, too far beneath them. How then must they have felt when they saw Jesus get up and take the towel and basin himself? He, the Master, would serve them and do the slave’s work. Philippians 2:8 sums up Jesus’ entire life with one phrase: “he humbled himself.” Jesus humbled himself not only in becoming a man, but in the humble kind of man he became.

Oswald Chambers pointed out that Jesus’ final words to his followers were not, “I’ve had a most successful time on earth. I’ve addressed thousands of people and been the means of their salvation. Now you go and do the same kind of thing.” What he said instead was, “If I then your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”

Now that we know this, blessed are we if we do it. –David Bast

Prayer: Lord, forgive my pride. Teach me to serve.

Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/word/devotionals/.