Washing the Feet

Jesus traveled around Jerusalem and taught many things that week before the Passover feast, which he asked his disciples to prepare for together.
It was a spring evening when they had gathered together for the Passover meal. Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world. He loved them to the end. At supper, after Satan had put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus rose from supper, laid aside his garments, took a towel, and wrapped himself in it. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and wipe them with the towel with which he was wrapped. Then he came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to him, "Lord, are you washing my feet?"

Jesus answered him, "You do not understand now, but you will understand later." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head." Jesus said to him,

"He who has washed himself needs only to wash his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not all of you," because he knew who would betray him, so he said, "You are not all clean" (John 1:13-11).
What a lover to the end! He knew the weak, just as he knew the deceit of the traitor, yet he continued to offer unconditional love without limits. He was the teacher and master, yet he gave his disciples an example of service and humility by washing their feet so that they, in turn, would serve one another. What a wonderful lesson that resonated with love, giving, and serving without expectation. Jesus knew that it was time for him to die, so he painted for his disciples another picture of the love and selflessness that always colored his life. Christ's life was distinguished by action before teaching. This was the miraculous scene when he stripped off his outer garments, placed a towel around his waist, poured water into a basin, and began washing his disciples' feet, just as slaves worked for their masters! He, the Most High, condescended to take the form of a servant to serve us, the lowly slaves. The Master bent down to wash all feet without discrimination. After showing them the work of love through Jesus, he taught his disciples:

"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).

A reflection by Brother / Makram Mashreqi