John 13:1-20 Copying The Life Of Our Savior For Good Works Found In Him

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”  Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”  Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”  For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?  You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. ¹Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Throughout this gospel, Jesus was saying that His time has not come.  In today’s lesson, He declares that His time has come to return to the Father.  But He did not leave us as orphans.  He declares that whomever He sends, if they receive them, then they have received Jesus who sent them  Furthermore, they also receive God who  sent the Son who sent representatives in His name.  We cannot live a life of revenge.  Instead we should live a life of service and love, because these are the qualities of the Savior.  Those who are not against Him are with Him proclaiming the gospel or Good News of the Salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life found in Jesus.
Daily Prayer:  Lord, let me live a life of a little “I” and a big “You” exalting You for all You have done and continue to to as the Great High Priest.  Build me up to a life of service found in Your Name so that your life and teaches can be found in me.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.