January 13

1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him.

3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter; and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash

my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whist; and ye are clean, but not all.

11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

This scene took place at the last supper of the Lord. Jesus and His apostles had taken, for the last time, the familiar walk from Bethany to Jerusalem, and had entered the upper chamber for their final gathering on earth. They had walked along the hot and dusty road over the shoulder of Olivet; on entering the chamber they had indeed taken off their sandals and left them at the door; but still the dust of their journey was on their unsandaled feet. To have their feet bathed before the meal was cooling and refreshing; but in their little mutual jealousies, no one had offered to perform the menial office. And, therefore, Jesus rose in perfect silence, stripped off His upper garment, took a towel, girded it round his waist, poured water into a basin, and began to wash His disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. Was there ever a more lovely, a more engaging instance shown, than by the great Redeemer of the world, in this condescending act?

O thou blessed Emmanuel! thou, the Lord our righteousness! never let me forget this instance of thy grace to poor sinners, but do thou cause it to be my daily encouragement to come to thee, and under the same conviction as the apostle, to cry out, "Lord, wash not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."

Closet Promise.—He giveth grace unto the lowly.—Prov. iii. 34.

Mrs. Susanna Wesley, writing of the services which she was holding in the rectory-house on Sunday evenings in behalf of the poor of Epworth, says: "But I never durst positively presume to hope that God would make use of me as an instrument of doing good; the farthest I ever durst go was, 'It may be; who can tell? With God all things are possible I will resign myself to Him;'" or as George Herbert better expresses it,

"Only, since God doth often make Of lowly matter, for high uses meet, I throw me at His feet; There will I lie until my Maker seek

For some mean stuff whereon to show His skill, Then is my time."