He Shows Goodwill Tells the Good Story 13
13
THE CEREMONIAL MEAL BEGINS
1The Passover festival was drawing near. Creator Sets Free (Jesus) knew it was time to leave this world and go back to his Father. His love for the ones who walked the road with him had always been great, and now, at the end, his love for them remained strong.
2The evil trickster snake had already twisted the heart of Speaks Well Of (Judas), also known as Village Man (Iscariot), son of Man Who Hears (Simon), to betray Creator Sets Free (Jesus).
3Creator Sets Free (Jesus) knew that his Father had put all things in his hands and that he had come from the Great Spirit and was returning to him.
FOOT-WASHING CEREMONY
4Knowing all of this, during the meal Creator Sets Free (Jesus) got up from the table, took off his outer garments, and wrapped a cloth around himself like a sash. 5He poured water into a vessel and, one by one, he began to wash the feet of his followers and dry them with the cloth.
This was a task reserved for only the lowest servant of the household.
6He came to Stands on the Rock (Peter), who said to him, “Wisdomkeeper, are you going to wash my feet?”
7“You do not understand now what I am doing, but later you will,” he answered.
8“No!” Stands on the Rock (Peter) lifted his voice, “This can never be!”
Creator Sets Free (Jesus) looked deep into his eyes and said, “If you refuse this, then you have no part in who I am.”
9“Wisdomkeeper,” he answered back, “if this is so, then wash my hands and head also!”
10Creator Sets Free (Jesus) replied, “If you have already had a bath, only your feet need washing, and then you will be clean all over. Now, you are all clean. Except for one.”
11He said this because he knew who would betray him.
After he had finished washing all their feet, 12he put his outer garment back on and sat down again at the table.
“Do you see what I have done?” he said to them. 13“You are right to call me Wisdomkeeper and Chief—because I am. 14If I, your Wisdomkeeper and Chief, have washed your feet, then you should wash each other’s feet. 15So follow my footsteps and do for each other what I have done for you.
16“I speak from my heart. The one who serves is not greater than the one who is served. A message bearer is not greater than the one who sent him. 17If you walk in this way of blessing, you will do well, and it will return to you—full circle.
ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME
18“I am not talking about all of you, for I know the hearts of the ones I have chosen. Now you will see the full meaning of the Sacred Teachings that said, ‘The one who ate with me has turned against me.’#13:18 Psalm 41:9 19I am telling you this ahead of time, so when it happens you will believe that I am the Chosen One.
20“I speak from my heart. The one who welcomes the one I send welcomes me. The one who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”
21When he finished saying this, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) became deeply troubled in his spirit. As sorrow moved over his face, he said to all, “From my heart I tell you, one of you will turn against me.”
22His followers’ hearts fell to the ground. They looked around at each other, wondering who would do such a thing. 23He Shows Goodwill (John), the much-loved follower of Creator Sets Free (Jesus), was sitting next to him. 24Stands on the Rock (Peter) motioned him to ask Creator Sets Free (Jesus) who it was. So he leaned back on his chest and whispered into his ear, “Wisdomkeeper, who is it?”
25“When I dip my frybread into the dish,” he whispered back, “I will give it to the one who will turn against me.”
He did as he said and handed the frybread to Speaks Well Of (Judas), also known as Village Man (Iscariot), the son of Man Who Hears (Simon). 26When Speaks Well Of (Judas) took the frybread, the evil snake took hold of his heart.
27“Go now,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said to him, “and do what you have planned.”
28None of the others understood what Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was saying to him. 29Since he was the keeper of the money pouch, they thought he was going to pay for the ceremonial meal or give something to the poor. 30As soon as he had taken the frybread, Speaks Well Of (Judas) got up from the table and went out into the night.
A NEW ROAD
31After he left, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said to them all, “The time has now come for the True Human Being to honor the Great Spirit and to be honored by him. 32As soon as the Son gives him honor, it will come back again—full circle.”
The Passover meal was coming to an end. It was time to close the ceremony and face the dark night ahead. The heart of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was full of compassion and love for the ones who had walked the road with him for over three winters.
33“My little children,” he said to them, “my time with you is almost gone. You will look for me, but where I am going you cannot follow. This is the same thing I said to the other Tribal Members and I now say to you.”
His followers lifted their heads up and looked into the face of their Wisdomkeeper.
34“I am giving you a new road to walk,” he said. “In the same way I have loved you, you are to love each other. 35This kind of love will be the sign for all people that you are walking the road with me.”
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
36Stands on the Rock (Peter) spoke up and asked, “Wisdomkeeper, where are you going?”
“The path I walk tonight you cannot walk with me,” he answered, “but you will walk it later.”
37“Wisdomkeeper!” he replied. “Why can I not walk with you now? I am ready to give my life for you!”
38“Will you truly lay down your life for me?” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) asked. Then he said, “Before the rooster crows in the morning, you will deny three times that you know who I am!”
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