"Living Words" is a weekly podcast that explores the transformative power of scripture across a diverse range of Biblical books, guided by insightful devotionals from the author's own works. Each episode seeks to deepen faith and understanding, connecting listeners with the enduring wisdom and relevance of the Bible in their daily lives.
Join us for week 18 of the Living Words podcast, hosted by Charles Vance, as we delve into the profound event of Jesus washing His disciples' feet from John 13:1-20. This week's episode, drawn from the "In His Footsteps" devotional, explores themes of servitude, love, and true leadership. Discover how Jesus' humble act of washing feet upends conventional notions of power and authority, setting a powerful example of servant leadership. Reflect on the spiritual cleansing necessary for communion with Christ and the depth of Jesus' forgiveness, even towards His betrayer. Engage with thought-provoking questions and heartfelt prayers, inviting you to embody the humility and sacrificial love of Christ in your own life. Tune in and be inspired to walk closer with Him. Listen now to deepen your understanding and connection with God's Word.
Get a copy of the In His Footsteps devotional here.
Good morning. This is week 18 in In His Footsteps, I'm Charles Vance and this is the Living Words podcast, and if you'd like to have your own copy of the In His Footsteps devotional, from which I've been doing these from, I'll put a link to it in the show notes, although it's not really necessary if you don't want to, because I'm going to go through this devotional in full Now. This week we're going to be dealing with the washing of the disciples' feet, and it's covered in John 13, 1 through 20. So I'm going to open in prayer. Father, thank you for this morning, thank you for the day. We just praise your name. We pray that you would open our hearts, our minds, our ears to hear your word, to see your word, to see you in your glory, and that our heart would perceive and understand the things from your living word, and that it would speak to us and speak into our day and speak into our week, that we could have a closer relationship with you, that we connect with you and understand our position in you. Alright, now I'm going to read from John 13, 1-20. And I'm using the New King James Version today.
Speaker 1:
Now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come that he should depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end, and, supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas, iscariot, simon's son, to betray him. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from the supper, laid aside his garments, took a towel and girded himself. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. And then he came to Simon Peter and Peter said to him Lord, are you washing my feet? And Jesus answered and said to him what I am doing. You do not understand now, but you will know after this. And Peter said to him you shall never wash my feet. And Jesus answered him If I do not wash you, you have no part with me. And Simon Peter said to him Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. And Jesus said to him he who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you, for he knew who would betray him and therefore he said you are not all clean. And so, when he had washed their feet, taken his garments and sat down again, he said to them Do you know what I have done to you? You call me teacher and Lord and you say Well, for so I am. If I, then your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet, for I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, as a servant is not greater than his master, nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I do not speak concerning all of you, I know whom I have chosen, but that the scripture may be fulfilled. He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me, and now I tell you, before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am he. Most assuredly, I say to you he who receives whomever I send receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
Speaker 1:
This passage captures the profound event of Jesus washing his disciples' feet, a moment rich with theological depth and practical lessons on servitude, love and the nature of true leadership. Set against the backdrop of the Last Supper before his crucifixion, the narrative not only foreshadows the ultimate act of love, his sacrifice on the cross, but also establishes a new paradigm of understanding for authority and service in the kingdom of God. The passage opens with Jesus fully aware of his impending death, betrayal and the divine authority entrusted to him by the Father. It's within this context that he chooses to perform a task reserved for servants washing the feet of his disciples. This act, loaded with cultural and spiritual significance, becomes a central teaching for his followers. Now, servant leadership is one of the key, significant things about this. So by washing the feet of his disciples, he models the essence of servant leadership. He inverts conventional notions of power and authority, teaching that true greatness in God's kingdom is measured by humility and service to others. There's a new commandment of love. The act prefigures the new commandment he will give later to love one another as he has loved them. The foot washing serves as a tangible expression of his love, illustrating how his followers are to live out this commandment in their relationships with one another.
Speaker 1:
Then there's purification and sanctification. The washing of feet, beyond its cultural context as a sign of hospitality, symbolizes spiritual cleansing and the sanctification that comes from Jesus. There's a spiritual cleansing and the sanctification that comes from Jesus. Peter's initial refusal and his response highlight the necessity of accepting his work for your participation in life and his mission. And there's betrayal and forgiveness. Even as he washes the feet of his disciples, he is fully aware of the impending betrayal by Judas. The act underscores the depth of his forgiveness and love, extending even to those who would betray him. Then there's the call to imitate Christ. He explicitly instructs his disciples to follow his example of humility and service, which establishes a pattern for Christian living and that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries, calling all believers to embody the humility and sacrificial love of Christ.
Speaker 1:
Here's some lessons the essence of servant leadership. Jesus demonstrates that true leadership is characterized by humility and service to others. Jesus demonstrates that true leadership is characterized by humility and service to others. By washing his disciples' feet, an act typically performed by servants, he inverts the conventional notions of power and authority. The act serves as a model for all who wish to follow him and teaches that greatness in the kingdom of God is measured by one's willingness to serve.
Speaker 1:
The Necessity of Spiritual Cleansing for Communion with Christ. The dialogue between Jesus and Peter during the foot washing. The necessity of spiritual cleansing for communion with Christ. The dialogue between Jesus and Peter during the foot washing symbolizes the need for spiritual cleansing to have a part with Jesus. This interaction highlights the importance of allowing him to cleanse us from our sins and underscores the broader spiritual truth that our fellowship with him and participation in his kingdom depends on accepting his work in our lives. Beyond the immediate context of foot washing, jesus establishes a principle for his followers to emulate his humility and sacrificial love in their interactions with others, and this lesson extends the act of service to a broader call to love one another as he loved us, embodying his selflessness and care in our relationships and communities.
Speaker 1:
How does the act of jesus washing the disciples feet challenge your understanding of leadership and greatness? My understanding of leadership and greatness was, I think, conventionally is well, I'm the boss, I'm in charge, I tell you what to do, which is an inversion, because Jesus is saying no, if you're the leader, you'll serve. What can I do for you? Reflect on the significance of this washing of the feet of his disciples, including Judas. What does that tell you about his nature? I mean, really, you know this guy's going to stab you in the back, you know it, and you're going to wash his feet. No, I'm going to smack him in the face. That's the self. And he's saying you have to cast that aside and you have to take your garment that you've girded in and wash the feet of your betrayer.
Speaker 1:
Here's some suggested prayers, and this is a prayer for a servant's heart. Heavenly Father, in a world that often equates greatness with power and status, teach us the humility and grace exemplified by Jesus as he washed his disciples' feet. Grant us a servant's heart eager to serve rather than be served, and to love others with the selflessness of Christ. Help us to embody true leadership grounded in compassion and service, that we might reflect your love and grace to those around us. Amen.
Speaker 1:
Prayer for Spiritual Cleansing and Communion. Lord Jesus, you have shown us the profound necessity of being cleansed by you to have a part in your life. We confess our sins and shortcomings, asking for your forgiveness and cleansing. Wash us anew with your grace that we may walk in fellowship and communion with you every day. May our lives be a testament to the transformative power of your love and purification. Amen, holy Spirit, inspire us to love one another as Jesus loved us sacrificially, unconditionally and generously In a world marked by division and selfishness. Empower us to be the agents of your love, breaking down barriers and building bridges of kindness and understanding. Strengthen us to embody Jesus' commandment to love that through our actions the world may see a reflection of your love and be drawn to you. Amen. Thank you for joining me this week. I hope it's been a blessing. If you found something in here you can take forward into this day and into this week and draw closer to Yeshua. Jesus Christ. Amen, and I'll see you next time.
