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by Precarious Yates
Narrated by Artificial Intelligence, Jenny,
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Jesus knew it was going to be the worst night if His life. He’d known this was coming since He first decided to come to earth. He had committed to doing this, and He always follows through on EVERY SINGLE commitment He makes. He’d known for so long that a brutal death was coming. This was His last night on earth.
What would you do on your last night on earth?
I’ll tell you what Jesus did.
He washed feet.
He.
Washed.
Feet.
Jesus washing His disciples’ feet is the most profound expression of love.
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. “A new command I give you: 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.””
John 13:1-5, 12-17, 34-35 NIV
What always hits me deeply about Christmas is that Jesus would not have come in the first place if He did not fully commit to His intention to come. His death was known from His birth, even if those around him didn’t know what the plan was. His coming was a profound expression of love and courage.
His birth and death are bookends of love. He chose to come and committed to do what was difficult, because He loves us. Jesus chose to wash feet as He anticipated His most difficult moment. He will not shrink back from this extravagant way of loving when He sees you. No, not even in the slightest. And He wants us to love the same way: at the last supper, He established this sort of culture and lifestyle of love and kindness. He wants to pour love like this on us—you and me—right now! So that we will pour it out on one another.
This Christmas, let’s reflect on ways we can show love to one another in even greater measure.
Merry Christmas!
About the Author:
Precarious Yates has lived in 8 different states of the Union and 3 different countries, but currently lives in Texas with her husband, her daughter and their big dogs. When she’s not writing, she enjoys music, teaching, playing on jungle gyms, praying and reading. She holds a Masters in the art of making tea and coffee and a PhD in Slinky® disentangling.
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