Day 13
John 13:8
Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.
There is something deeply uncomfortable for many people about receiving help. We are often far more willing to serve than to be served. We will show up for others, lend a hand, and meet needs, but when the roles are reversed, resistance rises. Accepting help can feel like weakness. Somewhere beneath the surface, there is a desire to prove that we are capable, strong, and self sufficient.
Peter embodies that tension in John 13. He is a fisherman, accustomed to hard work and taking care of himself. It is easy to imagine how uncomfortable he must have been as Jesus knelt in front of him with a towel. Peter would have gladly washed Jesus’ feet. What he could not accept was Jesus washing his. His resistance was not rooted in disrespect, but in pride and self reliance.
Jesus responds firmly and lovingly. If Peter refuses to be served, he misses out on something deeper. Letting Jesus wash his feet was not about cleanliness. It was about surrender. It was about releasing control and allowing Jesus to meet him in a place of vulnerability.
Many of us struggle in the same way. We carry burdens we were never meant to carry alone. We strive to prove that we can handle things ourselves. But self sufficiency often becomes a barrier to grace. When we insist on doing everything on our own, we quietly resist the care and rest Jesus offers.
Allowing Jesus to serve us challenges the belief that we have to carry everything by ourselves. It invites us into a posture of trust. It opens the door to rest and peace that cannot be found through effort alone. Dependence on Jesus is not weakness. It is the starting point of transformation.
As you continue this season of prayer and fasting, consider where you may be resisting help from Jesus. Ask yourself what it would look like to release the need to prove yourself and simply receive. Jesus is not asking you to earn His care. He is offering it freely.
Prayer
Jesus, help us release the burden of self sufficiency. Teach us to trust You enough to receive Your care, Your grace, and Your rest. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, help us surrender control and depend fully on You. We open our lives to Your loving service. Amen.