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Reflections
A Crossroads Church Devotional
February 14, 2012
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Do You Understand What I Have Done to You?
John 13:1-20
[1]Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. [2] During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, [3] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, [4] rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. [5] Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. [6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" [7] Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." [8] Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." [9] Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" [10] Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." [11] For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean." [12] When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? [13] You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. [16] Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. [18] I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled,''He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'' [19] I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."
Jesus washed the disciples feet in this passage. This was a prophetic picture of Jesus removing the garments of his glory that he had with the Father to put on the servant's towel and serving humanity by washing our sins clean by his precious blood.
It is also a very real expression of Jesus demonstrating the low and humble expression of love that a disciple should have toward others.
Jesus took time with each disciple as he bent low, took each foot and washed the dirt and dust off of it. We are not privy as to whether Jesus spoke specific things to each disciple as he washed their feet, but what is certain is that Jesus spent a considerable amount of time washing the twelve disciples' feet, including Judas.
When everything was finished, he asked the group a specific question. I believe this is a question that is asked often by the Lord to each of us in our spiritual journey. He asked them this, "Do you understand what I have done to you?"
Each of us has experienced numerous valleys and mountain peaks in our life and we will experience many more. Each of us are on the Potter's wheel being formed and shaped into the image of the one who has apprehended and called us for his purpose. It is during the moments when he is pressing and pushing on the clay of our hearts that he will pause and ask this question, 'Steve, do you understand?'
We can not always answer the question, and maybe we are not supposed to. Maybe the question is asked by the Lord to make us stop and reflect and think about the work that he is doing in us.
So, as you read the word this week and as you think about the work that he is doing on and in you as you submit to the hand of the potter, let him ask your heart. Do you understand what I have done to you?
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