Day 5: MAUNDY THURSDAY
Scripture
JOHN 13:1-20 (NIV)
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’
“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
Devotion
On this Thursday, Jesus gathered with all twelve disciples for a final meal, fully aware that His death and resurrection were near. During this Last Supper, He issued one final command, *mandātum* in Latin - hence “Maundy Thursday”, to love through humble service, symbolized by His act of washing their feet. While often seen as a lesson in servant leadership, this moment also reveals a deeper message about forgiveness, salvation, and spiritual cleansing.
Peter’s reaction to Jesus washing his feet is both classic and a little hilarious. He’s the only one bold enough to protest, likely thinking he’s honoring Jesus by refusing. But Jesus shuts it down with a single line: “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” One minute it's about dirty feet, and the next Jesus changes the narrative completely by putting one’s relationship with the Living God at risk. Goodness, talk about a line.
In verse 10, Jesus begins to reveal His actual intent and command drawn from the activity He is currently demonstrating. In Jewish custom, if you had already bathed your entire body, one would only need to wash their feet again prior to taking part of a meal (cause you just used your feet to walk to the dining hall and nobody wants your dusty feet in their face while y’all are reclining and eating grapes together). Then we look at His words from a spiritual, heavenly perspective (since Jesus is both God and man) and realize Jesus is talking about salvation and forgiveness. Jesus is saying, once you have been cleansed, fully bathed, and *baptised*, you are saved through His coming actions and salvation is achieved. Yay us! BUT, Jesus doesn't stop there. “He who is bathed needs only to wash *his* feet but is completely clean…” Forgiveness still needs to be a continual practice in a Disciple’s life; a moment by moment and day by day act of cleansing one’s spiritual self since we live in the duality of living in this broken and fallen world but we are not of it.
By washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus models daily forgiveness: humbly allowing others to minister to us and lovingly serving one another in return. This continual act of giving and receiving grace cleanses us from the daily burdens of living in a fallen world. Through it, we cultivate the love and unity Jesus desires for His followers.
Questions for reflection
What areas of your life still resist Jesus’ “washing,” and how might you be invited to humbly receive His grace and forgiveness today?
How can you practice both giving and receiving forgiveness in your daily walk, especially within your community of faith?
Prayer
Jesus, I thank you for this Thursday and the opportunity to, once again, sit at your feet to listen and to learn. Again I am reminded of the life-changing gift of knowing I will spend eternity with You and yet, I still need You now more than ever.
In the midst of a divisive and tumultuous world that changes by the minute, I am comforted to know the same principles apply: Love God and love my neighbors. Help me to love my neighbors well through my constant renewal of forgiveness. Reveal the areas of my heart that have been hardened and need to be made squishy again through forgiveness. By extending forgiveness to those around me and asking for forgiveness in the very same breath, may I be known for the love I possess through the vehicle of consistent and constant forgiveness.
I love You, I need You, and I want more of You. In Your name, Amen.
written by Hannah Jang
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Family Devotional
Maundy Thursday: John 13:1-20
If you have younger kids set a pretend table for dinner. You can choose to use a dinner table or a play table with guest toys present for the meal.
As you read the passage have the kids draw a king. After reading, have your children share their drawings and what they think a king should look like. Then look back at the Bible story. Why are the disciples surprised that Jesus was washing their feet? It was the servants’ job to serve and Jesus was supposed to be a king. How is Jesus a different kind of king? Share that Jesus chooses to love and serve people in ways that might be surprising.
Consider washing each other’s feet or take time to think about how you all can serve each other or someone outside your family like a neighbor. Then if possible do it right then!