March 9th, 2026
Monday, March 9
“You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for I am. If I, then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also out to wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Here’s what it comes down to: a servant is not greater than the master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
~ John 13:13-17
“You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for I am. If I, then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also out to wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Here’s what it comes down to: a servant is not greater than the master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
~ John 13:13-17
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The Gospel of John is most famous for one verse, John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that whoever believes in him might not die and fade out, but have eternal life.”
Sadly, this passage is often misunderstood. The Greek word translated “so” means “thusly” or “in this way.” It’s not telling us how much God loved the world. That’s not in question. John 3:16 is telling us how God shows love. John 3:16 tells us God’s love is love that gives radically to the world that rejects this love, and this is displayed in Jesus on the cross. Miss this, and you miss much of what John’s gospel is trying to communicate.
In John 13, Jesus washes his disciple’s feet. This is Jesus’ final action on his last night. Foot-washing was done by slaves. Slaves put other people above themselves; their lives existed for the sake of giving life to others.
Peter, speaking for the disciples, naturally objects to Jesus’ action because he gets it. What Jesus is doing is not normal, it’s not right. Jesus is their teacher! He is Lord, the Son of God! How can he take the position of a slave?! But that’s how Jesus defines love because the cross defines Jesus. What was seen as a dishonorable act of slavery becomes the example of divine love. Talk about turning things upside down!
In John 12:30-32, Jesus talks about being “lifted up” and casting out the ruler of this world. When he does this, he will “draw all people” to himself. He’s talking about dying on the cross, not the resurrection and ascension. The cross is the great act of love: the exaltation of lowliness, God giving of himself to lift us up to God. And it is through this kind of self-sacrificing love that evil is dismantled. Only this way of love, at every level of life: individual, social, political, national. No exceptions.
Remember that John’s gospel is the one that talks about Jesus as the “light” that overcomes darkness. This light that overcomes is the light of self-giving love that is so radical that it breaks the system. It’s as the rap artist Lecrae says in his song, “Anomaly”: “The system didn’t plan for this.” The cross of Jesus demonstrates that the kingdom of darkness is not overthrown through Christianized use of the same methods and tactics as the world. That might seem like it works, and it might result in visible success according to that lens. It might even be defended as “Biblical.” But it won’t be Christlike. Only love that suffers like Jesus humiliated on the cross is Christlike. This is the way, the truth, and the life.
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For reflection:
Prayer: God of love, your love breaks our categories. It makes no sense. But this is how your love transforms life. We need this kind of love if there is to be any hope. Please teach us your way of love, so that it takes over our lives. Amen.
The Gospel of John is most famous for one verse, John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that whoever believes in him might not die and fade out, but have eternal life.”
Sadly, this passage is often misunderstood. The Greek word translated “so” means “thusly” or “in this way.” It’s not telling us how much God loved the world. That’s not in question. John 3:16 is telling us how God shows love. John 3:16 tells us God’s love is love that gives radically to the world that rejects this love, and this is displayed in Jesus on the cross. Miss this, and you miss much of what John’s gospel is trying to communicate.
In John 13, Jesus washes his disciple’s feet. This is Jesus’ final action on his last night. Foot-washing was done by slaves. Slaves put other people above themselves; their lives existed for the sake of giving life to others.
Peter, speaking for the disciples, naturally objects to Jesus’ action because he gets it. What Jesus is doing is not normal, it’s not right. Jesus is their teacher! He is Lord, the Son of God! How can he take the position of a slave?! But that’s how Jesus defines love because the cross defines Jesus. What was seen as a dishonorable act of slavery becomes the example of divine love. Talk about turning things upside down!
In John 12:30-32, Jesus talks about being “lifted up” and casting out the ruler of this world. When he does this, he will “draw all people” to himself. He’s talking about dying on the cross, not the resurrection and ascension. The cross is the great act of love: the exaltation of lowliness, God giving of himself to lift us up to God. And it is through this kind of self-sacrificing love that evil is dismantled. Only this way of love, at every level of life: individual, social, political, national. No exceptions.
Remember that John’s gospel is the one that talks about Jesus as the “light” that overcomes darkness. This light that overcomes is the light of self-giving love that is so radical that it breaks the system. It’s as the rap artist Lecrae says in his song, “Anomaly”: “The system didn’t plan for this.” The cross of Jesus demonstrates that the kingdom of darkness is not overthrown through Christianized use of the same methods and tactics as the world. That might seem like it works, and it might result in visible success according to that lens. It might even be defended as “Biblical.” But it won’t be Christlike. Only love that suffers like Jesus humiliated on the cross is Christlike. This is the way, the truth, and the life.
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For reflection:
- The cross and foot-washing show how God loves, not just how much.
- For those with kids: This might seem strange to you, but get out a large bowl and fill it with water. Get a towel. Take time as a family to wash each other’s feet. Talk about how you felt to have someone else wash your feet. Explain how washing feet is putting other’s above yourself. Think about how you might serve other people in your life in this kind of way. (not literally washing feet)
Prayer: God of love, your love breaks our categories. It makes no sense. But this is how your love transforms life. We need this kind of love if there is to be any hope. Please teach us your way of love, so that it takes over our lives. Amen.
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