Day 18

Completion: Maundy Thursday

The Thursday before Easter is known as Maundy Thursday. Traditionally it is the day that Jesus meets with the disciples in the upper room to have the last supper and to wash their feet. “Maundy” comes from the Latin root of “mandate,” or command. Jesus tells His disciples after He washes their feet, “This is a new commandment I give to you, do as I have done for you.” We see God in the flesh – Jesus- do what most of us would refuse to do. He says to follow His example. One of Jesus’ final acts on earth is serving others. When we hear this command it should motivate us to love greater. Jesus says, “It will be how you love one another that they will know you’re my disciples.” As Jesus heads to the cross He is motivated by love.

John 13:2–17
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.

REFLECTION
Why do you think Jesus ends His time with the disciples by washing their feet?

If you were in the room, and Jesus said He was washing your feet, what would of have been your response?

How are doing with the new command of loving like Jesus?

PRAYER
Spend some time today thanking the Lord for being a Savior who came to serve, not be served. Also, ask Him to reveal ways you can “wash the feet” of those around you to show your love for Him and them.