Passion: The Last Moments of Jesus' LifeSýnishorn

Have you ever pictured your last meal? What would you want it to be?

Maybe it's a big, juicy steak.

Maybe, it's a gourmet breakfast.

Whatever it is, it probably doesn’t resemble Jesus’ last meal. This is the moment in the Holy Week story we find ourselves in as we zoom into the foot washing passage from John. This moment finds Jesus and His closest friends here on earth in a room that will come to be known as the Upper Room about to celebrate their final meal together.

Except the disciples still don't realize it's their last meal with Jesus.

In Luke’s Gospel, we see that right before Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, the disciples are arguing about which of them is the greatest.

"A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest." - Luke 22:24

Let’s stop there.

Can you imagine what Jesus must have been feeling?

According to John 13:1-2, Jesus knew that His "hour had come to leave this world." He also knew that "the Devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus." So, Jesus knew that His time was coming. He knew He would be betrayed. Instead of having a beautiful last moment to eat a meal and be with His closest friends on this earth, He is stuck listening to the disciples argue about who is the greatest amongst themselves. This is, of course, after three years of daily teaching, living, and correction Jesus had given the disciples!

This was because, in those days, the Passover meal would have been eaten around a triclinium. A triclinium is a low (coffee-table height) U-shaped table. Also, in those days, the Master, Lord or Teacher would have taken a seat in the place of honor in the center of the table. Then, the next highest-ranking member in the group would be beside him, and so on and so forth would have occupied the seats closest to the Master.

It's during this argument Jesus decides to do something scandalous. Our text reads like this:

"So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him."

Jesus what are you doing here?

Can you imagine everybody's shock when Jesus gets up and begins to wash His disciples’ feet in the middle of their argument? This was a big deal because, in Jewish culture, the lowest servant in the household would wash the guests’ feet before the meal started.

Jesus understood what was going on in the room.

Isn’t that a comforting thought by the way?

Jesus, because of who He is, knows what is going on and what we need despite our attempts to mess things up. Sometimes it’s easy to picture Jesus as this really detached person who lives up in the clouds somewhere. But that’s not the Jesus we see here. He had every right to be frustrated and annoyed with His disciples’. But Jesus stayed in the moment with His followers. Don’t miss the simple but profound truth that comes from this revelation.

Jesus is in your every moment.

Stop and breathe right now and let that thought flood your soul with joy.

The Savior of the world is with you right now.

Even though He was about to head into His final hours of life, Jesus was in the moment enough to stop and teach His disciples one last object lesson. Side note, Jesus didn't just put on a show of being a servant. He could have easily had another servant pour the water, set out a towel, and get everything ready for Him to do this act of service. Jesus got up and did all this work on His own.

One last observation from this moment with Jesus. Peter, seeing what Jesus was doing, initially refuses to let Jesus wash his feet. Jesus (who is by now, after 3 years, used to Peter's antics) corrects Peter by saying:

"Unless I wash you, you won't belong to me." – John 13:8 NLT

As you reflect this week in anticipation of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, spend some time pondering what it means to simply accept Jesus’ love.

We know Jesus wasn't talking about literally washing Peter's feet, but the washing and covering of Peter's sins by Jesus’ blood. Jesus was telling Peter in so many words, if you want to be a part of my new kingdom, you must freely accept my gift of service and love.

Yes, the same Jesus, God of the Universe, Creator of the world, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, loved YOU enough to die for you. It doesn't matter what you have done.

What you will do.

Or how far you run.

All you must do is accept the free act of love that Jesus offers you. And, if you are feeling guilty or ashamed (things Peter was probably feeling in the moment when Jesus was trying to wash his feet.) Just remember this, Jesus loved you till the very end. And will never stop loving you.

REFLECTION QUESTION

Peter has difficulty accepting the gift that Jesus is giving him. What sometimes makes it hard for you to accept God's grace?