Tuesday, November 7
Serve your betrayer
Scripture: John 13
John 13:10–11 Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, “Not every one of you is clean.”)
Observation
Luke 22 tells us that the disciples were arguing in the upper room over who was the greatest. It’s possible that the absence of a servant to wash their feet provoked that argument. Jesus ended the argument by taking the basin and towel and washing their feet—all of them…including Judas, the betrayer.
John tells us in V. 2 that the devil had already put it in Judas’ heart to betray Jesus. And Jesus knew it—this is clear in v. 10-11.
Jesus knowingly washed the feet of His betrayer. What did that feel like?
But it wasn’t just Judas. Peter pledged to die for Jesus, and only hours later would deny even knowing Him. Jesus knew that too—and washed Peter’s feet. And all the others would desert Him and run for their lives, leaving Him alone. Jesus knew that too—and washed their feet. What did that feel like?
Application
When someone has betrayed me, deserted me, denied me, I don’t want to serve them. I want nothing to do with them. I write them off.
Jesus didn’t. He washed their feet. He served them. And He said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you.” (v. 14-15)
I am called to serve those who hurt me, just as Jesus did. This is so counter-intuitive, so far outside my comfort zone that I struggle to even imagine it, let alone do it. I’m asking Jesus for help!
Prayer: Lord, I want to follow Your example, but this is beyond me. I need You to fill me and empower me to serve like this. Help me!
More: Nehemiah 3-4, Psalm 129, Luke 7