Passion Week: Thursday
Thursday Devotional
Jesus: A Peculiar King
Welcome
It’s Thursday of Passion Week. Jesus is hours away from the cross. By the next afternoon, he will be crucified.
In Jesus’ final moments with his disciples, he will show them what the kingdom of God really looks like.
In a world where kings demand to be served, Jesus takes the place of a servant and washes feet.
And when violence erupts at his arrest, he responds not with revenge, but healing.
Today we see that Jesus is a very different kind of king.
The Passion week story continues with John 13:3-5 and Luke 22:50-51 (ESV):
In Jesus’ final moments with his disciples, he will show them what the kingdom of God really looks like.
In a world where kings demand to be served, Jesus takes the place of a servant and washes feet.
And when violence erupts at his arrest, he responds not with revenge, but healing.
Today we see that Jesus is a very different kind of king.
The Passion week story continues with John 13:3-5 and Luke 22:50-51 (ESV):
Scripture
John 13:3-5
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Luke 22:50-51
50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.
3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Luke 22:50-51
50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.
Devotional
In this time, washing someone’s feet was a job reserved for a lowly servant. Roads and shoes were not like they are today and feet were… gross! It would be incomprehensible for a rabbi, master, or king to take on such a task.
Yet Jesus, the King of kings, stooped low with a towel around his waist and began to wash the feet of his disciples.
This was not weakness. The Father had given all things into Jesus’ hands. Instead, Jesus, the master, modeled for his disciples what true leadership looks like. If Jesus, their master and king, was willing to wash their feet, what did that say about them? We are, therefore, called to go and serve likewise.
Later that night, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Jesus stopped him, however, and healed the man.
Don’t let this miracle get lost on you. Yes, Jesus healed many people. On this occasion, who he healed also matters.
This servant of the high priest (Malchus) had come to wrongfully arrest Jesus. As soon as his ear hit the floor a couple of things likely flooded his mind (other than pain).
Yet Jesus, the King of kings, stooped low with a towel around his waist and began to wash the feet of his disciples.
This was not weakness. The Father had given all things into Jesus’ hands. Instead, Jesus, the master, modeled for his disciples what true leadership looks like. If Jesus, their master and king, was willing to wash their feet, what did that say about them? We are, therefore, called to go and serve likewise.
Later that night, when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Jesus stopped him, however, and healed the man.
Don’t let this miracle get lost on you. Yes, Jesus healed many people. On this occasion, who he healed also matters.
This servant of the high priest (Malchus) had come to wrongfully arrest Jesus. As soon as his ear hit the floor a couple of things likely flooded his mind (other than pain).
- His severed ear would be considered a defect, and according to the law, he would not be able to enter the temple.
- His life as a servant of the high priest would have been over.
Even in the face of betrayal and wrongful arrest, Jesus showed mercy to his enemies.
What kind of king washes feet and heals the very people that plotted against him?
A peculiar one.
This is exactly who Jesus is. His kingdom is not built on pride or revenge, but humility and sacrificial love.
Today, let us meditate on who King Jesus is, and ask the Lord to reveal the areas in our lives where we’ve praised God for how humble he was, but would never humble ourselves like that. Show us the cognitive dissonance we hold when it comes to admiring the way Jesus loved his enemies, but we’ll continue to hate our own.
What kind of king washes feet and heals the very people that plotted against him?
A peculiar one.
This is exactly who Jesus is. His kingdom is not built on pride or revenge, but humility and sacrificial love.
Today, let us meditate on who King Jesus is, and ask the Lord to reveal the areas in our lives where we’ve praised God for how humble he was, but would never humble ourselves like that. Show us the cognitive dissonance we hold when it comes to admiring the way Jesus loved his enemies, but we’ll continue to hate our own.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the life and example we have in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
“Our Lord.”
O may you be exactly that in our lives today, to the point that no matter what you lead us to our answer is, “Yes, Lord.” When you call us to wash feet, find us obedient. When you call us to love those who persecute us, give us the strength to love like you do.
Thank you for the life and example we have in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
“Our Lord.”
O may you be exactly that in our lives today, to the point that no matter what you lead us to our answer is, “Yes, Lord.” When you call us to wash feet, find us obedient. When you call us to love those who persecute us, give us the strength to love like you do.
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