He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
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.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
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. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:6–17
During 2026, Peachtree Church is inviting everyone into Cultivate, a churchwide discipleship plan centered on the fruit of the Spirit and the kind of life God longs to grow in us. Throughout the year, we’ll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take shape in everyday life through the Spirit’s work. Cultivate brings together worship, Scripture, group guides, and meaningful practices designed to meet you where you are and support growth in ways that fit your season. These twice-weekly devotionals are one way to stay connected, offering reflection and grounding for daily life with God. Whether you engage in many ways or just one, you’re invited to be part of this shared journey of becoming more rooted in who God has created and called you to be.
Devotional
Peter’s reaction feels familiar. Jesus kneels in front of him with a towel, and Peter is immediately on guard: “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” The idea that Jesus would humble himself this way is uncomfortable. Peter is fine following Jesus, learning from Jesus, even declaring loyalty to Jesus, but being served by Jesus feels like it is wrong.
Jesus’ response is gentle but firm: “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Love that serves often doesn’t make sense in the moment. It confronts our pride, our assumptions about power, and our desire to stay in control. Peter doesn’t want to be vulnerable. He doesn’t want to receive grace in such an intimate way, but Jesus makes it clear: “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Before Peter can serve, lead, or follow, he must first receive. The foundation of Christian love is not what we do for Jesus, but what Jesus has already done for us.
When I was growing up, I always felt like it was more about what I did to serve God than what God did to serve me. It wasn’t until college that I realized the inverse is true. If God cared more about what we did than about how he serves us, then it would empty the cross of its power. As a knucklehead college kid, I remember comprehending this and being overwhelmed by how much Jesus had done for me. It was almost hard to receive.
Jesus reminds us of the power of his gift when he follows up the foot washing with the question: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He reminds the disciples of who he is: Teacher and Lord, and then redefines what authority looks like in light of service. True love doesn’t cling to status. It takes up the towel. And the blessing, Jesus says, comes not from knowing this, but from doing it. So love that is humble and that serves is rooted in what we receive and spread by what we do. How can you take action to serve in love this week? How can you remember that this service is nothing without first knowing Christ?
For Reflection
- Where might you be resisting Jesus’ love because it feels uncomfortable to receive?
- And how might letting him serve you first reshape the way you love and serve others?
Prayer
God, give me Your kind of love … the kind that serves, covers, and reflects Your grace. Help me take up the towel today. Amen.
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Devotionals