John 13
Devotional by Luzma Bedoya
Read John 13
John 13
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
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. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 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.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 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.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
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? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 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. 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. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 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.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
One of You Will Betray Me
After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
A New Commandment
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
Devotional
“And He loved them to the end.”
This love in the original Greek language is not like the love that we know or often think of. This love is agape love. It is an unconditional, sacrificial love that implies fidelity and commitment… until the end.
Fidelity and commitment were not evident in the lives of Judas and Peter after this last—very emotional—dinner. This dinner comes after 3 years together that were filled with supernatural events with God made flesh.
We, too, could become like Judas or Peter. Agape love does not come naturally to us. Due to our fallen nature, we are incapable of producing that love on our own. However, God knows our current level of love for Him and, by His grace, wants to transform us so that we learn about the true fidelity and commitment that this kind of love implies, not only toward Him, but toward others.
How committed are you to the Lord?
Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus for all the benefits you have given me, For all the pains and insults you have borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, of you three things I pray: To see you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day.
Prayer by Saint Richard of Chichester
Thank You for Your never ending, life changing, overwhelming, unconditional love. Help me to love like You do!
Amen. Help me Lord to love like You Jesus
Help me to love you more and more everyday. I want to feel the love you have for me. I want to grow more in your love each and everyday. Praise the Lord and Amen!!🙏✝🕊📖
Thank you God for Jesus!! Thank you for your unconditional love.
Lord Jesus, you love me unconditionally despite my sins and many faults. Enable me through your Holy Spirit to be fully committed to you and love others like you love them, especially those who are difficult to love.
We love because he loved us first. Lord we receive your love. Help us be committed to you. We pray that our love for you grows and that we may give fruit of it. 🙏 we cant do this alone. We need you!
Grateful that the love of God isn’t based on my commitment to Him! My heart’s cry is to love and serve the Lord with and in everything and can only be done by His Spirit!
Love ,Hope and Submission is my prayer
“… 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, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.”
I love this image right before Jesus washes His disciples’ feet. How could the King so humble Himself as to kneel and wash the dirt, grime and refuse from men’s feet?
He knew the authority that was His (the Father had given all things into His hands), He knew His identity (He had come from God), and He knew the end result of His earthly mission (He was going back to God).
That’s why/how He could rise, lay aside his garments and pick up the servant’s towel. How secure am I in the authority/identity/mission I have in Christ? Am I willing to throw to the side my selfishness and fear of man to serve in the name of Jesus?
Thank you God for your unconditional love. I just want to be more like you.
I am so excited that we are on one accord with the understanding of Gods unconditional love. That statement that “love makes the world go round “ can be used here. If we love one enough as He loves us and study and stand on His word, this world will definitely be a better place. I am enjoying the lessons.
Lord Jesus wash my feet make me clean and in share with you. Transform my love to be more like yours a deeper connection to you and in deeper connection and affection and love towoard others, doing it all with the right motives not selfish ones. I’m tired of uncovering selfish motives which have come up in my life which wreak of pride and selfish ambition and manipulation. Help me Lord to have pure motives in my life and every area at all times. Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be pleasing to you. Wash me clean
So many times I have wondered how I would have reacted to the Words of Jesus if I had been present at this Last Supper? It’s easier to make a stand now because I know the story and its outcome. But would I have understood then?
Lord Jesus the way you love us is truly amazing. Please allow me to grow in my love for you and for others. 🙏🏾
“This love is agape love. It is an unconditional, sacrificial love that implies fidelity and commitment… until the end.” Fidelity and commitment are such precious, bold, strong words. That’s the kind of love I want for my Lord—agape love. Fidelity and commitment until my last breath! Hallelujah! Praise Your Name Jesus! I exalt You!
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
How committed I am to The Lord.
I am reading one chapter a day on helping me on my commitment to The Lord and that it is important for me to read one chapter a day so it helps you on a different level of understanding. It is going to help me on a good understanding and it should be a good way to start on being committed.