Approaching Easter ~ Jesus washes his disciples' feet

John 13 v 1 -17

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet 1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
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.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
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.
"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Foot washing in biblical times was a service provided by a good host. On entering someones house custom would mean that you would be provided and the host or his servant would wash your feet.
In this reading Peter seems horrified that Jesus would humble himself by washing their feet. Jesus explains that he is using the feet washing as a metaphor to show that we should all be servants to one another.

The song above, The Servant King, is one of those songs that has stood the test of time. it is as loved today as it was when it was written. It speaks of Jesus coming to earth "not to be served, but to serve".
I personally think the line "Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrender" is the most poignant. This Amazing powerful entity performed the most subservient act.
The song then moves on to encourage us to serve one another.. "each others need to prefer, for it is Christ we are serving"
What we do for others we are doing for Jesus!