Family Passover Seder Meal
This Evening at 6:30 PM
All Are Welcome!
Scripture
John 13:1-20 New International Version (NIV)
 
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
 
13  1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
 
2  The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
 
6  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
 
7  Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
 
8  "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
 
9  "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
 
10  Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
 
12  When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
 
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
 
18  "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: 'He who shared my bread has turned against me.'
 
19  "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."

Meditation
A Servant's Heart - Ginger Selander
 
One day an airline flight was canceled due to bad weather. One solitary agent was trying to rebook all of the travelers whose schedules had gotten messed up. One passenger became impatient and pushed his way to the front and slammed his ticket down on the counter. He said, "I have to be on this flight, and it has to be first class!" The agent politely said, "I'm sorry, sir. I'll help as soon as I can, but I have to take care of these other people first." The man became angry and shouted, "Do you have any idea who I am?" Without hesitating, the agent picked up the loud speaker microphone and said to the hundreds of people in the terminal, "May I have your attention, please? We have a passenger here at the gate who does not know who he is. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to the gate." The man backed off, and the crowd of people burst into applause.
 
When I first read that story, I laughed out loud. That man surely had that coming to him. He was so full of self-importance that he put his needs ahead of everyone else.
 
Can you think of someone like this? Maybe a co-worker? A family member? Even a friend? Or......could it be you or me?
 
Take time to think of times you put yourself first. You tried to use your station in life to get what you want. Or the times you felt you were above a certain task. Maybe you felt underappreciated for things you have done. I, too have often sat and felt sorry for myself because I didn't get my way or had to do something I didn't like.
 
This lesson in John is to remind us there is nothing beneath us. Our Lord Jesus Christ performed the most menial of tasks for his disciples. He got up from the table after the meal had started. He knew what was ahead of him. He knew who would betray him, yet he bent down, and with utter love, he washed the feet of each and every one of them!
 
Why didn't the disciples do this for one another? They were busy trying to figure which one was the greatest, and who would sit at His right hand, who was Jesus' favorite. Once again we see that self-centered view. The desire for prominence is death to love, death to humility, and death to service. That is the complete opposite of Jesus. He was other-centered at all times. His whole life was lived out loving, serving and healing others. And this is a life that we should emulate.
 
So, the next time you begin to think of yourself over others, picture your Lord and Savior on his knees washing the dirt and garbage off the feet of men that would betray him, deny him and scatter. Are you or I better than Jesus?
 
Jesus calls us to have a servant's heart and love everyone. The more you serve in love and humility, the greater leader you will become. Your blessings will multiply and your joy will increase. 
 
Reflection
Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 New International Version (NIV)
 
13  1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 
No matter what the task you are called to do, do it with love and humility. You will be filled with joy and blessings!
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for your example of love and servanthood. Help me to become more like you each day Lord. Let me leave self-centeredness behind and allow your love to flow through me and reach out to all I meet.
In your holy name I pray. Amen
Stay Connected
1234 Main Street, Awesomeville, MA ยท 555.555.5555