Quick Summary:

Everything in this 13th chapter of John’s gospel seems to have slowed to a crawl. Jesus' hour has arrived and he knows exactly what’s coming. Yet, in spite of all that will unfold in the coming days, this last meal Jesus shares with his disciple community is devoid of any urgency on his part. Instead, fully aware of the turmoil that’s about to break lose all around him, Jesus is CALM.

His last opportunity to teach his disciples has come. But at this final meal he begins his teaching not with words but with actions. He takes off of outer robe, ties a towel around his waist, pours water in a bowl, and makes his way around the table washing his disciples’ feet.

Head knowledge only takes a person so far. Ask anyone whose working the 12-steps. Knowing the right thing isn’t what gets you home. It’s the practice. The doing.

And so the question this text leaves us to ponder is:
How will Christ’s command to love one another find expression in our lives today, tomorrow, this week?