Scripture: John
13:1-38
This week’s devotions
follow a different pattern. They will focus on Gospel accounts of the last week
of Jesus’ life. I encourage you to read each of the readings slowly, perhaps
out loud, and to meditate on Jesus’ love in his actions. The prayers offered
are from the early twentieth century and variations on them are still used in
worship.
Teaching
John records the events of the Last Supper in chapter 13. He
has an extended record of Jesus’ teaching during the supper in chapters 14-17,
but the main actions are here. It begins with Jesus washing his disciples’
feet. It is hard for some of us to grasp the importance of this event, but it
is consistent with Jesus’ whole ministry. He serves. He serves us by giving his
life for us. That service changes our relationship with others and moves us,
because we have been cleansed in Christ, to serve others in his name.
Life
Do an act of humble service for someone else. It doesn’t
have to be washing feet, there are many ways to serve others. As you do this
work, think about Jesus and all he has done and continues to do to serve you
with love, forgiveness, faith, and salvation.
Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, we adore Thy love and praise Thy
compassion; we bless Thee for Thy bonds and stripes, Thy crown of thorns and
painful cross, Thy bitter agony and death, in that Thou, who knewst no sin,
wast made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Thee.
May the contemplation of Thy holy Passion give us an abiding sense of our own
unworthiness and of Thy surpassing grace, that, being distressed by our sin, we
may be comforted by Thy merit. O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the
sin of the world, do not forsake us in adversity and distress and in the hour
of death, but have mercy upon us evermore and grant us Thy peace. As Thou has
loved us, even so may we, withdrawing our affections from the world and the
things that are in the world, love Thee above all things. As by our sin we have
made Thee to serve, do Thou strengthen us by Thy grace in every conflict and
temptation, that we henceforth may strive to sin no more. Thou has left us an
example, that we should follow Thy footsteps. Grant that, looking unto Thee,
the Author and Finisher of our faith, we may run with patience the race that is
set before us, and hereafter obtain the end of our faith, even the salvation of
our souls, and praise and glorify Thee for Thine unspeakable love, world
without end. Amen.[1]
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