Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. ~ John 13:3-17
Many of us are like Simon Peter—independent and self-sufficient, not wanting His Lord and Teacher to see and touch and actually wash his dirty feet. We try to hide our filth from ourselves and from God, but He sees everything. He knows the evil thoughts in our hearts, the things we do that we shouldn’t, and the things we don’t do that we should. Rather than hide our sins, if we confess them and let Jesus wash us in His blood, He will cleanse us of our sins.
Lord God, help me to remember that I can’t hide my sins from Your all-seeing eye. You see and know everything, but instead of seeing my sins, You see the Blood of Jesus that has washed me cleaned. Thank You! I give You my life to do with as You will. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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