John13:2-4
“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.
And 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 to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel.
Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.”
And 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 to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel.
Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.”
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Jesus had always had known that His exodus from this world would not be pretty. That it would be by means of death on a cross, but He did not know when this time would come → But now He knows.
And even in that moment of realization, He still remains compassionate, forgiving and loving about His own disciples. How amazing that Jesus is not thinking of Himself even though He knows that this is the dreadful and crucial hour toward which His life has been heading.
Instead, His thoughts are still upon His own disciples. He teaches them and manifests love and compassion and concern for them unto the end. This is one of the remarkable things regarding Jesus washing the disciples' feet. He is still loving and teaching his disciples unto the end.
Jesus had always had known that His exodus from this world would not be pretty. That it would be by means of death on a cross, but He did not know when this time would come → But now He knows.
And even in that moment of realization, He still remains compassionate, forgiving and loving about His own disciples. How amazing that Jesus is not thinking of Himself even though He knows that this is the dreadful and crucial hour toward which His life has been heading.
Instead, His thoughts are still upon His own disciples. He teaches them and manifests love and compassion and concern for them unto the end. This is one of the remarkable things regarding Jesus washing the disciples' feet. He is still loving and teaching his disciples unto the end.
But let’s not overlook another major thing
that’s going on at this time with Jesus that concerns Judas.
In this dramatic act of washing His disciples' feet, Jesus also stoops to wash the feet of Judas! Jesus knew that Satan ‘had already put it in the heart of Judas Iscariot, to betray Him’ and, yet, His commitment of demonstrating the love of God and His passion for men’s souls would not let Him betray Judas by turning His back on him - but He would fight to the end for Judas’ soul – showing in reality to Judas the love of God.
Just a thought: As Hebrews 4:15 lets us know that Jesus was ‘tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin’ – then, perhaps, this last act of Jesus before He faced crucifixion was to free Himself from any unforgiveness regarding Judas.
This is our assurance: Even though Jesus was ultimately done wrong by Judas and because of that was about to be tortured and passed into a dark struggle that no man could comprehend - He did not think of Himself by retaliating or harboring unforgiveness - but He loved him to the end. And, He loves us unto the end as well. Nothing we do, or fail to do, in foolish ignorance, will stop Him from loving us unto the end.
I now must stop and ask myself this question
- Am I a 'Towel Wearer'?
Have I demonstrated the love of God to others that have wronged me in some way that there’s nothing they can do, or fail to do, in foolish ignorance that will stop me from demonstrating the love of God to them just as Jesus did with Judas?
Here are the words to part of an old song from many years ago:
♫Lord, Have I Done My Part
I wondered one day as I went along my way,
Lord, have I done my part?
Lord, have I done my part?
It seems easy to see what others fail to be,
But, Lord, have I done my part?
But, Lord, have I done my part?
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Thank you for reading my blog of thoughts, encouragement and instructions the Lord speaks about to me. It is simply my therapy to write down these things as I walk my journey out with Him. I would love to hear back from you. Each new day is a blessing! Dorothy