Friday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – John 13:1-20 (NLT)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
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Morning Reflection:

The Example of Christ

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and they were taken aback, they didn’t know what to make of it all – the master served the slaves. And Jesus explains –

“I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master.
Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.
Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.”
– John 13:15-17

So what do we already know that we can emulate, that God will bless us for doing?

+ Humility – The Word of God became a human being. Jesus voluntarily gave up his divine privileges, his perks… and was born as a human being. (Philippians 2:7)

Q: Do you consider yourself privileged? In what way are you better off than others? What advantage could you relinquish to love and serve others?

+ Self-denial – Jesus lived counter-culturally, embodying the values of the Kingdom of God – even though he “faced all the same testings we do….” (Hebrews 4:15)

Q: How does your lifestyle affect your emulation of Christ? Can you think of an act of self-denial that would bless and serve someone else?

+  Unrelenting love – For Jesus, loving meant serving others, even giving up his life for those who rejected him – washing the feet of the one who would betray him.

Q: Have you ever been betrayed? How did you respond? What would it mean for you to love them with unrelenting love?

Jesus had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth,
and now he loved them to the very end.
– John 13:1

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Show me how to love and serve others, especially my siblings in Christ, as he has loved and served me. Empty me of my pride and feelings of self-importance. Show me where my lifestyle conflicts with your Kingdom values. And fill me with the love of Jesus, that I might love and serve even the most difficult people in my life. Help me fulfill your purpose for my life. through the power of your Spirit at work within me, and for your glory. Amen.
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“Build my life” – Housefires

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen