Jesus took a towel
When my daughter was in college, she spent a January semester in Ghana. I don’t remember all the stories she shared but I do remember her saying “Mom, if your feet are clean your whole body feels clean.” Today is Maundy Thursday the day when we remember and reflect upon the last day of Jesus’ earthly ministry. On that last day Jesus washed his disciples feet and gave them a new command before he took the bread and cup to celebrate what we call the Last Supper.
“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.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
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.” John 13: 3-17 NIV
Jesus showed by example what the disciples should do and then encouraged them to do likewise. “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.” I love the little word “so” because of what Jesus knew of His Father and His purpose he got up to serve his disciples in the most humble, simple way.
The story written in John 13 continues as Jesus predicts his betrayal by Judas, his denial by Peter and he gives his disciples a new command, I guess you could say he had a lot on his mind but he still washed their feet.
“Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorifiedand God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13: 31-35 NIV
Amy Carmichael in His Thoughts said… His Father said… states:
“Would It Matter?
His thoughts said, My work is not important. Would it matter very much if a floor were left unswept or a room left untidied? Or if I forgot to put flowers for a guest, or omitted some tiny unimportant courtesy?
His Father said, Would it have mattered very much if a few people had been left without wine at the feast? But thy Lord turned water into wine for them.
And the son remembered the words, Jesus took a towel.“
Four little words that speak volumes Jesus took a towel.
I enjoyed your post. You are right about those four little words that represent a servants heart.
Thank you.
It always makes me weep to think of this. He loved us so much in a very personal way.
Those simple personal things washing feet and then making breakfast after His resurrection are what blow my mind. Our Creator and Savior does the big things and the little things to show His love.
Thank you for the powerful reminder that we are ought to do as our Savior did.