Daily Devotion for Wednesday 2nd July 2025

St John 13: 1 – 20

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,  got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’  Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’  Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’  Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’  Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’  For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?  You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.  So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.  Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.  I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.”  I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.  Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’

Reflection

The other day my husband and I were on the phone to one of our sons. He was asking some questions about a particular period in his childhood, and in answer to one of them, after a short silence, John and I burst out laughing. Our son commented that he could ‘hear us looking at each other’ just before our laughter started. He was absolutely right – which goes to show just how well he knows us.

Today’s passage has a lot about knowing and being known. Jesus knows that his death is imminent. His decision to act as a servant to his disciples comes in the light of his knowledge of his relationship to his father and the power that he has been given. He knows that Peter doesn’t understand what he is doing, and asks all of them whether they know what he has done. He knows that one of his friends will betray him.

Then he tells those same friends – and us – that we are to follow his example of servanthood. He reminds us that we don’t simply have to know things in our heads, but also to act.

It’s not always comfortable to be known to someone else – it can make us feel very vulnerable. But we, like the first disciples, are known by Jesus. Despite our foibles and weaknesses, he knows and loves us. And he calls us to continue our journey with him; to know him better, to become more like him, and to help others to know him through our words and actions.

Prayer

Loving God,
you know us inside and out
and continue to love us.
Help us to know you better
as you reveal yourself to us.
And help us to reveal your love
to those around us this day.
Amen