The Final Hours Have Come

Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the father. His disciples and others, whom he encountered, believed he would be around for a much longer time. In the last few hours before his arrest, and crucifixion, Jesus had much work to do. Jesus, having loved his own who were in the world, showed them the full extent of his love. He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He then poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet. When he came to Simon Peter, he at first refused Jesus’s request, but then Jesus tells him that “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Then Peter conceded and requested he wash his hands and head as well. Jesus answered back saying that one who has had a bath only needs to wash his feet. Jesus also stated that not everyone in the room was clean for he knew who was going to betray him. When he finished washing their feet, he put his clothes on and returned to his place. Jesus then asked them if they understood what he had done for them. Jesus told them, “Now that I have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I done for you.”

Let us ask ourselves: do we show this kind of love to those around us, whether disciples or not? I know that I often fall short of this kind of servitude, but God gives us grace every time we fall short, in so that our faith in him will increase. If we are to be like Jesus we ought to follow in his footsteps and set an example to the world so that in turn we might bring more people to follow Jesus.