The Prodigal's Returnናሙና

Judas Was Included, Too

Bailey Hartman

[John 13:1-17 MSG] Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal. Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So, he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.” Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!” Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.” “Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!” Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So, if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

This is a story that many of us know well. Jesus is preparing to die on the Cross and the disciples are gathered together for what is known now as the last supper. Jesus knows exactly what is going to happen including the betrayal by Judas. Jesus gets up, gathers what he needs, and begins to wash the disciples’ feet, everyone’s feet, including Judas’.

Jesus could have left Judas out, but He washed his feet. He knew what role Judas would have to play and that He could not change what decisions Judas would make. Think about someone who has hurt or betrayed you, now imagine inviting them to your house for dinner and then washing their feet as an act of service to them. I am telling you now, I could not do it.

This is a great show of how to love our enemies. We as Christians do not have to let people run over us and hurt us, we can have boundaries. However, we are called to be like Jesus. What if you showed love and kindness to them regardless of how they hurt you? We can at least pray for them as well.

God, this is so hard sometimes. Help us to show love to people regardless of how they have treated us. Help us find a way to invite them to our dinner table, even if that is not in a literal sense. Help us learn to forgive and show that we are different because of You in our lives. Thank you for Jesus’ example of true loving-kindness. Amen.