Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father, be with me this week as I seek to serve the following people ... Please bless my service and use it to draw them closer to your Son. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

It was almost time for the Jewish Passover festival. Jesus knew that it was time for him to leave this world. It was now time for Jesus to go back to the Father. Jesus had always loved those people in the world who were his. Now was the time Jesus showed them his love the most. Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already persuaded Judas Iscariot to turn against Jesus. (Judas was the son of Simon.) The Father had given Jesus power over everything. Jesus knew this. Jesus also knew that he had come from God. And he knew that he was going back to God. While they were eating, Jesus stood up and took off his robe. Jesus got a towel and wrapped the towel around his waist. Then Jesus poured water into a pitcher. He began to wash the followers' feet. He dried their feet with the towel that was wrapped around his waist. Jesus came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, you should not wash my feet." Jesus answered, "You don't know what I am doing now. But later you will understand." Peter said, "No! You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "If I don't wash your feet, then you cannot be one of my people." Simon Peter answered, "Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!" Jesus said, "After a person has a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you men are clean, but not every one of you." Jesus knew who would turn against him. That is why Jesus said, "Not every one of you is clean." Jesus finished washing their feet. Then he put on his clothes and went back to the table. Jesus asked, "Do you understand what I did for you? You call me 'Teacher.' And you call me 'Lord.' And this is right, because that is what I am. I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet {like a servant}. So you also should wash each other's feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should do {for each other} like I did for you. I tell you the truth. A servant is not greater than his master. The person that issent to do something is not greater than the one that sent him. If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.

Related Scripture Readings

Christ died for us while we were still weak people. We were living against God, but at the right time, Christ died for us. Very few people will die to save the life of another person, even if that other person is a good person. If the person is a very good person, then someone might be willing to die for that person. But Christ died for us while we were still sinners. In that way God showed us that he loves us very much. We have been made right with God by Christ's blood (death). So through Christ we will surely be saved from God's anger. I mean that while we were God's enemies, God made friends with us through the death of his Son. So surely, now that we are God's friends, God will save us through his Son's life. And not only will we be saved, but we are also very happy now. We are happy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus that we are now God's friends.

True love is God's love for us, not our love for God. God sent his Son to be the way that God takes away our sins.