Pastor Stephen Dedman

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are you willing to lower youself to love others the way Jesus did, even when it’s uncomfortable or undeserved?

Context
Thursday of Passion Week brings us into the upper room. It’s the final evening before the cross. Jesus gathers with His disciples for what is called the Last Supper. But before the bread is broken and the cup is shared, something unexpected happens: the King of Kings kneels.

In a culture where foot washing was reserved for the lowest servant, Jesus takes the towel and basin and washes the disciples’ feet, including Judas, who would betray Him, and Peter, who would soon deny Him.

Application
John’s Gospel doesn’t just show us what Jesus did, it shows us who He is. Even knowing the cross was hours away, Jesus chose humility, service, and love.

We often want influence, recognition, or authority, but Jesus calls us to a towel, not a throne. Serving others isn’t weakness, it’s Christlikeness. Who can you serve today without receiving recognition?

Truth For The Day
True greatness in the Kingdom of God is revealed through humble service.

Pray
Lord, thank You for showing me what true love looks like. You didn’t just speak about humility, you lived it. Help me to lay down my pride and take up the posture of a servant. Give me eyes to see the needs around me and a heart willing to meet them. Teach me to love like You freely, humbly, and sacrificially. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What are you holding back from Jesus that He is worthy of today?

Context
Wednesday of Passion Week is often called “Silent Wednesday.” The Gospels don’t record much public activity from Jesus on this day, but behind the scenes, two powerful things happened. A woman pours out expensive perfume in an act of extravagant worship and Judas begins moving toward betrayal. One offers everything in devotion. The other gives everything up for a price.

Application
There’s something striking about the contrast: The woman breaks open what is valuable to honor Jesus and Judas calculates value and sells Jesus for silver. One sees Jesus as worthy of everything. The other sees Him as worth something.

And here’s the question this day asks us: Do we worship Jesus with surrender… or do we measure what He’s worth to us?

The woman didn’t hold back. She didn’t worry about what others thought. She didn’t save some for later. She gave it all to Jesus.

Truth For The Day
True worship is not convenient, it’s costly, intentional, and surrendered.

Pray
Lord, help me not to drift but draw near. Give me a heart like the woman who held nothing back. Remove anything in me that tries to put a price on Your worth. You are worthy of everything I have. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Where might you be focusing more on how you appear spiritually rather than who you truly are before God?

Context
Tuesday of Passion Week was one of the busiest teaching days of Jesus’ ministry. After entering Jerusalem and cleansing the temple, Jesus spent this day confronting religious leaders and teaching in the temple courts.

In Matthew 23, Jesus delivers a series of strong warnings to the Pharisees, not out of anger alone, but out of a deep desire for truth and repentance. These leaders looked righteous on the outside but were spiritually empty in their hearts. Jesus was exposing a dangerous reality: it’s possible to appear close to God while being far from Him.

Application
This passage invites us to examine our own hearts. It’s easy to focus on outward appearances like attending church, saying the right things, doing good works, but Jesus is concerned with what’s happening inside us. Are we pursuing God privately, or just publicly? Is our faith authentic, or are we maintaining an image? Do our actions flow from love for Christ, or from obligation and recognition?

Jesus doesn’t call us to perfection, He calls us to honesty and transformation.

Truth For The Day
God is not impressed by appearances, He desires a transformed heart.

Pray
Lord, search my heart and reveal anything in me that is not genuine. Strip away any desire to impress others and replace it with a sincere love for You. Cleanse me from the inside out, and help my life reflect Your truth not just in appearance, but in reality. In Jesus’ name, amen.