To kneel

Laura Digan April 02, 2026 1 0

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John 13: 1-17 (NIV-UK)

1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’

7 Jesus replied, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’

8 ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’

Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’

9 ‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’

10 Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’ 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. 13 ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord”, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

“He knelt before us, our teacher, our Lord, and took the basin in his hands. I wanted to stop him. He was our leader and this was not his place. And yet, there he was, washing our feet as though no menial task was beneath him.

I thought following him meant learning his words, witnessing his power. But here, in this quiet, humbling moment, he showed us something deeper. Not greatness as we imagined it, but love made visible through service.

He said we should do as he has done. Not admire it, not remember it, but live it.

What does that mean for me now? 

To kneel where I would rather stand.

To serve where I would rather be seen. To love without seeking return.

If this is his way – then this must be mine.

So, as we go forward, as the weight of this week unfolds, I ask myself, will I follow his example, even here?”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, who knelt to serve, teach me your humble way.

Give me hands willing to love in quiet, unseen places each day.

May my life reflect your example, in all I do and say.

Amen