Passover Dinner – John 13:1-17/33-38
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table,[a] took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.
What does the passage say?
V. 1-5 At the Passover festival, Jesus knew it was all coming to an end. Today was Maundy Thursday when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples. Today at Raleigh Court Untied Methodist Church, we are inviting Rabbi Kathy Cohen to come and lead us in a Passover meal, Jewish Traditional Sedar meal. Please join us tonight at 7 PM in our Memorial Hall. Children from Kindergarten and above are recommended to adhere to the time, and child care for toddlers will be available.
We see that the Bible says, “The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesu.” (V. 2) From our previous devotion, we remember how ‘Satan entered into Judas,’ as soon as he ate the bread given by Jesus (v. 27). However, this shows that evil was in Judas, even before this encounter.
V. 6 – 17 Jesus shows the purpose of his life and the way for the disciples to live. He came to serve and love the world. So for his final act with his disciples, he teaches them how to live. Live in the manner of serving. Sometimes doing things that only servants might do. Purposefully situate ourselves to the lowest places.
V. 33-38 Jesus establish a new commandment with his followers. “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (V. 34-35). Jesus, who is about to die for our sins, which is the greatest love of the history, he asks his followers to do the same for others.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (v. 1).
Jesus loved people, even though they betray him, run away from him, and deny him. It says that he loved them to the end. Not only sacrificing himself on the cross but also, while he was with them, he loves them by serving them.
We need to remember that we shouldn’t remain in the receiving end of this love but start loving and serving as Christ showed us. When we love, he says that we will be known as his disciples. But we also know that when we love and serve, we can also grow in this love.
Can we love other like Jesus did?
We might have one day if we start loving others one step at a time.
What are your thoughts?
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