April 6, 2025 - John‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬-‭5

“Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” John 13:3-5 NLT

Jesus, we see in this verse that you fully knew who you were. You knew where you came from, where you were about to return, and the authority you held as the Son of God. You didn’t operate separate from the Father. All that you did was through the authority of the Father. The Father gave you all authority to make God known to the world. You came, but you looked so different than what people expected God to look like many didn’t recognize you. How wonderful that the omnipotent God we serve doesn’t want to rule over us but wants to walk in relationship with us. Jesus, you came to love and serve us not to dictate or rule over us. We see this in the verse where you took off your robe and put on the towel of a servant. Then you washed the feet of your disciples. This was the job of the lowest servant. None of the disciples stooped to do this job for you or the other disciples. Likely their pride didn’t allow them to take on this menial task. Yet, we see you stopping to display your love for your disciples in this task. What a beautiful example of who you are.

Lord, help us learn to love and serve others the way you love and serve us. Make us more like you. Kill the pride in us that would keep us from stooping low enough to love and serve those our society views as untouchable. Let us never see anything as something that is below us. Open our eyes to any areas in our lives that need to change to make us more like you. Let our lives represent you and glorify you here on earth.

In Jesus name, amen.