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JUNE 4
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
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my feet!” another’s feet. For I have given you an exam-
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, ple, that you should do as I have done to you.
you have no part with Me.” 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet greater than his master; nor is he who is sent
only, but also my hands and my head!” greater than he who sent him. If you know
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10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs these things, blessed are you if you do them.
only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; 18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I
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and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He know whom I have chosen; but that the Scrip-
knew who would betray Him; therefore He ture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with
said, “You are not all clean.” Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Now I
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12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His tell you before it comes, that when it does
garments, and sat down again, He said to them, come to pass, you may believe that I am He.
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“Do you know what I have done to you? You 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives
call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for whomever I send receives Me; and he who
so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
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DAY 3:Why was Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet so powerful a lesson?
The dusty and dirty conditions of the region necessitated the need for footwashing.Although
the disciples most likely would have been happy to wash Jesus’ feet, they could not conceive of
washing one another’s feet (John 13:4–17).This was because in the society of the time footwashing
was reserved for the lowliest of menial servants.Peers did not wash one another’s feet, except very
rarely and as a mark of great love. Luke points out (22:24) that they were arguing about who was
the greatest of them, so that none was willing to stoop to wash feet. When Jesus moved to wash
their feet, they were shocked. His actions serve also as symbolic of spiritual cleansing (vv. 6–9) and
a model of Christian humility (vv. 12–17). Through this action Jesus taught the lesson of selfless
service that was supremely exemplified by His death on the cross.
These proceedings embarrassed all of the disciples (vv. 6–10). While others remained silent,
Peter spoke up in indignation that Jesus would stoop so low as to wash his feet. He failed to see
beyond the humble service itself to the symbolism of spiritual cleansing involved (v. 7; 1 John
1:7–9). Jesus’ response made the real point of His actions clear: Unless the Lamb of God cleanses a
person’s sin (i.e., as portrayed in the symbolism of washing), one can have no part with Him. The
cleansing that Christ does at salvation never needs to be repeated—atonement is complete at that
point.But all who have been cleansed by God’s gracious justification need constant washing in the
experiential sense as they battle sin in the flesh. Believers are justified and granted imputed righ-
teousness (Phil. 3:8,9), but still need sanctification and personal righteousness (Phil. 3:12–14).
Jesus said,“I have given you an example” (v. 15). The word used here suggests both example
and pattern.Jesus’purpose in this action was to establish the model of loving humility.“If you know
these things, blessed are you if you do them” (v. 17). Joy is always tied to obedience to God’s
revealed Word.

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So he went and did according to the word
JUNE 4 of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the
Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.
The ravens brought him bread and meat in
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the morning, and bread and meat in the
1 Kings 17:1–18:46
evening; and he drank from the brook. And it
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And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants happened after a while that the brook dried
17 of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God up, because there had been no rain in the
of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall land.
not be dew nor rain these years, except at my 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him,
word.” saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs
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2 Then the word of the LORD came to him, to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have com-
saying, “Get away from here and turn east- manded a widow there to provide for you.”
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ward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And
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flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a
shall drink from the brook, and I have com- widow was there gathering sticks. And he
manded the ravens to feed you there.” called to her and said, “Please bring me a little
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