Gospel Reading Reflection
When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
The Revolutionary Act of Washing Feet
In the powerful scene from John’s Gospel, we witness Jesus performing what might seem like a mundane act. He is washing his disciples’ feet. Yet, this humble gesture carries revolutionary implications for understanding true leadership and divine connection.
When Jesus kneels before his followers, he inverts the expected power dynamic. The Creator serves the created. The Master becomes the servant. This act embodies the “upside-down” nature of God’s kingdom where “the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.”
Blessed Are Those Who Do, Not Just Understand
Jesus makes it clear that this isn’t merely symbolic theater but a lived example to follow: “blessed are you if you do it.” The emphasis on doing rather than merely understanding reveals a profound truth. Spiritual knowledge without corresponding action remains hollow. True blessing comes through embodied practice, not from knowledge alone.
Service in the Face of Betrayal
The mention of betrayal (“The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me”) adds a heartbreaking dimension. Jesus washes even the feet of the one he knows will betray him, Judas. This demonstrates the indiscriminate nature of divine love that serves even those who will cause harm. Jesus shows that true service continues even in the face of rejection or betrayal.
The Divine Connection Through Service
Perhaps most striking is Jesus’ statement that “whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” Here we find a mystical chain of divine connection. We are linked to Jesus through his messengers. Through Jesus, we connect to God. Our treatment of others isn’t separate from our relationship with the divine but establishes it directly.
The repeated “Amen, amen” (truly, truly) emphasizes the gravity of these teachings. The declaration “I AM” deliberately echoes God’s self-revelation to Moses at the burning bush. This statement connects the humble foot-washing to the real identity of Christ.
Living the Lesson Today
So what does this mean for us today? It challenges our natural instincts toward self-protection and status-seeking. It invites us to discover divine presence through service. Even service that appears beneath our dignity or status invites us. When we wash metaphorical feet, performing acts of care that receive no recognition, we participate in the divine nature.
This passage doesn’t suggest that service is admirable. It reveals that service constitutes the very heart of God’s being. The One who created galaxies kneels to wash dirty feet. This is not God momentarily acting out of character. This is God revealing divine identity in its purest form.
Our Take-away
As we reflect on Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, we’re invited to examine our own resistance to humble service. What “feet” in our lives are we unwilling to wash? Where do we cling to status? Do we embrace the freedom found in letting it go? How might we experience unexpected joy and blessing when we finally do Jesus’s teachings that we understand?
The beautiful contradiction remains. In losing our need for recognition and status, we find our truest identity. In serving others, we discover ourselves being served by the divine presence that flows through all authentic acts of love.