Jesus in John's Gospel

Monday, April 29                                                                                   John 13:1-5

“He began to washthe disciples’ feet”

     Havingloved his disciples throughout their three plus years together, he now lovesthem to the very end.  The instrument of Jesus’death is at the table with him, for the intention of betrayal has alreadyentered the heart of Judas.  In the midstof the silent struggle going on during the meal, the purpose of God is beingworked out.  The Father has not become abystander, removed from the evil which is closing in on his Son.  He is with him and has given him authorityand power to finish the work for which he had come.  Jesus is a free man, knowing who he is, whyhe has come, and what will be the end of his journey.

    As the supper ends, Jesus acts out the significance of his death.  This is far more than a courteous gesture bywhich he is attempting to give his disciples an ethical lesson in serving.  This is an act of incredible humility whenJesus voluntarily does the menial work of a slave, and it is a parable inaction of the sacrifice of his own life. As he physically washes the disciples’ feet, so his death on the crosswill spiritually cleanse them of their sin.

Your death on the cross, Jesus, washed meclean of my sin.  Amen.

Tuesday, April 30                                                                                   John 13:6-17

“Unless I wash you”

     Whilethe circle of disciples seems to accept Jesus’ gesture, Peter reflects howshocking the deed must have seemed.  Thedepth of his devotion to Jesus defines the strength of his objection, andJesus’ rebuke is carefully worded: “If Ido not wash you . . .” means that the question is not simply one of washing,but a question of who does thewashing.  Peter must participate in thework of Jesus.  He lacks a cleansing onlyJesus can supply.  The implied referenceto Judas in verses 10b and 11 indicates that Jesus’ work of footwashing has notchanged Judas’ heart.

     Jesusexplains what he has just done.  Butwhile the subject of the footwashing in verses 2 through 11 pertained to Jesus’salvific work on their behalf, his teaching now points to how they mightimitate his deeds.  Jesus’ sacrifice willbe the supreme token of his overwhelming love for the world, and he wants hisfollowers to exemplify that same love to one another.  His act of sacrifice cannot be repeated, buthis model of self-giving love can become a natural feature of the communitythat follows him and imitates him.

May we lovingly serve one another, Jesus,as you have served us.  Amen.

Wednesday, May 1                                                                               John 13:18-20

“He who shares mybread has betrayed me”

     Forthe third time, the subject of Judas’ betrayal enters the story as Jesus’interpretation returns to thoughts of him. This builds the impression that Jesus is troubled about this matter andthat the betrayal of this man weighs heavily on him.  Jesus makes clear that his choice of Judaswas no mistake.  “I know those I havechosen” should not be read to say that Jesus chose the eleven but that somehowJudas had been forced on him.  Rather,what Jesus means is that he knows the kind of men he chose.

    There are no surprises for Jesus after so many years together inministry, and this betrayal has not taken him unawares nor should it shock hisdisciples.  Still, Jesus’ citation ofPsalm 41:9 underscores the personal affront that this betrayal meant.  In verse 20, Jesus returns to the subject ofthe servant and his master.  As servantsare obligated to reflect the work of their masters in every respect, so toosuch servants enjoy the respect and the authority that comes from working intheir master’s name.

May I always be trueto you, Jesus, doing the good work you have given me.  Amen.

Thursday, May 2                                                                                 John 13:21-30

“He gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot” 

     Jesus and hisdisciples are reclining at the table. Jews in this period adopted the Roman triclinium table, a low three-sided table shaped like a “U.”  Guests reclined on cushions around theperimeter while the interior of the table setting provided access forservers.  The body was supported with theleft arm (or elbow), the right hand was used for eating, and the feet wereextended away from the table.  We aretold that John was reclining next to Jesus.

     Jesus tells Johnthat the betrayer is the one to whom he gives some dipped bread, and then hepromptly serves Judas.  To serve someonea morsel from the table like this was not unusual, and the disciples could havetaken it as a simple honoring gesture for Judas.  If so, it is particularly ironic since thisgesture of respect is the last thing Jesus can do for Judas.  This is love’s last appeal!  Jesus is reaching out to him as a friend, andone wonders if Judas could look into Jesus’ eyes.  But at that moment Judas gives himselfcompletely into Satan’s control, and Jesus releases him to his act of betrayal.

You have reachedout to me in love, Jesus, and I have responded with love for you.  Amen.

Friday, May 3                                                                                        John 13:31-35

“Love one another”

     The departure ofJudas leaves Jesus with those who are his intimate followers, to give them hisfinal instructions (which will continue through chapter 17).  Here he speaks of his glorification.  Note that Jesus uses the past tense, sayingthat already the glory of God hasbeen revealed in his life.  ThroughoutJesus’ life of perfect obedience, God has been honored.  God’s power has also been made visiblethrough the many miraculous signs of Jesus’ ministry.  Now the hour of glorification has dawned;even in washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus has revealed something more of God’sglory.  Jesus’ glory thus occurs whenGod’s glory radiates through him.

     The supremeplace where this divine radiance will be visible will be on the cross.  This future glorification, then, is not somedistant event at the end of time or in heaven. It is the series of events that will unfold at the end of this momentousweek: Jesus’ death and resurrection. Another place where the glory of God has radiated through Jesus is inhis love for his disciples.  As he hasloved them, they are to love one another.

May we love one another, Jesus, with thekind of love you modeled.  Amen.

Saturday, May 4                                                                                   John 13:36-38

“I’m ready to diefor you”

     Onewonders if Peter was paying attention to Jesus’ command for them to love oneanother.  He seemed to still be broodingover where his Lord is going when he leaves. Jesus again states that Peter cannot follow him now, but afterward hewill.  Surely Jesus is speaking prophetically,for at the end of his earthly discipleship, Peter will join Jesus through amartyr’s death.  But Peter, who does notunderstand, insists that he is ready to lay down his life for Jesus’ sake.  He is claiming that he is able to do the workof the Good Shepherd, which is to lay down his life for his sheep.

     Howstubbornly presumptuous Peter is.  Thedisciples are not without sin simply because Judas has left.  Are not all of us guilty at times of the sinof pride, trying to play the Savior, making ourselves into “little Messiahs,”insisting we can do his work?  Littledoes Peter realize that at the very outset of the struggle he will deny Jesus,not once but three times.  How well Jesusknows him, as he does us.  And he stillloves us with a love that will not let us go.

Inthe face of danger, Jesus, may I still be loyal to you.  Amen.

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