Folding bath towels is one of my least favorite household chores. But today the monotony of the task was interrupted by thoughts of Christ’s wrapping a towel around His waist and washing the feet of His disciples. What struck me about this scene from John chapter 13 was that the author had just commented, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power” (3). Jesus knew He had power, and He exercised that power by washing the disciples’ feet and drying them with a towel.
Let’s look for a minute at what He didn’t do with His power. He didn’t strike down Judas Iscariot, who was about to betray Him. He didn’t exercise His power to reroute His course to the cross. He didn’t use His power to wipe out the Roman soldiers who would arrest Him. He didn’t throw lightning bolts or whip up a huge storm to send Jerusalem into chaos.
He used His power in the most dramatic and compelling way; He used it to show His disciples the “full extent of his love” (John 13:1).
On the cross, Christ used His power from God to love His disciples. He used His power of love to destroy sin and death. He used His love to bring His disciples forgiveness and unite them to God. He used His power to open the eternal kingdom of God to all who believe in His name.
Christ’s disciples in every age are shown the power of His love.
Photo by Edward Cisneros
Denise Larson Cooper has a passion for Christ and sharing His Word. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise currently works as a gymnastic coach.
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