John 13:1-7 Later You Will Understand

Observation: Jesus washes his disciples' feet as an intentional, symbolic act. John's Gospel talks a lot about Jesus' "hour": the time when he is lifted up, and the whole world sees exactly who he is. The time when his destiny is fulfilled. The whole book leads up to it. And when his hour has finally come, and he knows it, the very first thing Jesus does is wash his disciples' feet.

Application: Soren Kierkegaard said that "life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward." None of us can see our future as clearly as Jesus saw his own. If any of us has an "hour" the way Jesus did--a significant moment in our lives in which God reveals God's glory through us--we will not know ahead of time. It will come in God's time.

That's why it's so meaningful that Jesus, knowing his hour has come, chooses to serve. He chooses to show his love for his disciples through concrete action. Knowing all that's about to happen, Jesus prioritizes washing feet.

None of us can see what lies ahead. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say we will never regret serving another.

Prayer: God, open our eyes to the way we can serve. Let us not make assumptions about what our neighbors need, but build relationships, ask how we can help, and then do so, as if there's no tomorrow. Let us live each day as though our hour has come. Amen.