Step 3 - RECEIVING
“One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,
but is entirely clean.”
John 13:10
but is entirely clean.”
John 13:10
We have spent time being ‘at one with the living God,’ and having our souls and senses awakened through the creation. Our loving God meets us in these intimate and sensory places, calling us into an ever-deepening relationship,
a relationship of mutual love and humility.
At the last supper Jesus chose the intimate and sensory encounter of foot washing as the way his disciples would receive and understand his new commandment of love.
Through this imaginative contemplation the invitation is to receive his loving touch upon our dusty feet, to cleanse, renew and send us out to love one another as he has loved us.
As you imagine the scene, just go with whatever comes to mind, this is about you and Jesus, and if it is helpful, you may like to use the pictures of the upper room and Jesus washing Peter’s feet
a relationship of mutual love and humility.
At the last supper Jesus chose the intimate and sensory encounter of foot washing as the way his disciples would receive and understand his new commandment of love.
Through this imaginative contemplation the invitation is to receive his loving touch upon our dusty feet, to cleanse, renew and send us out to love one another as he has loved us.
As you imagine the scene, just go with whatever comes to mind, this is about you and Jesus, and if it is helpful, you may like to use the pictures of the upper room and Jesus washing Peter’s feet
Prepare
Spend a few minutes imagining the upper room: its size, the table, the food & wine, the disciples preparing to share this meal together. The jug and bowl, ready for the lowliest servant to wash their feet.
Read
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’
Spend a few minutes imagining the upper room: its size, the table, the food & wine, the disciples preparing to share this meal together. The jug and bowl, ready for the lowliest servant to wash their feet.
Read
Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’
After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’
John 13:1-35
Notice
Where are you are in the room?
Who else is there?
What are they saying and doing?
What you are being drawn to?
Sense
What can you See? Hear? Smell? Touch? Taste?
Encounter
As Jesus comes and kneels before you, ready to wash your feet, allow him to minister to you.
Colloquy
Talk with Jesus and listen to him about your time together.
Where are you are in the room?
Who else is there?
What are they saying and doing?
What you are being drawn to?
Sense
What can you See? Hear? Smell? Touch? Taste?
Encounter
As Jesus comes and kneels before you, ready to wash your feet, allow him to minister to you.
Colloquy
Talk with Jesus and listen to him about your time together.
Remember the chaplain, Kathryn Fleming, is available if you would like to talk through anything you have experienced.