I do my best to follow your commands,

Because you are the one who gives me the desire.

LORD, teach me your laws,

I will always follow them.

Help me understand your teachings, and I will follow them. Obeying them will be my greatest desire.

Help me follow your commands, because that makes me happy.

Give me the desire to follow your rules, not the desire to get rich.

Don't let me look at worthless things.

Help me live your way.

God, be merciful to me because you are loving. Because you are always ready to be merciful, wipe out all my wrongs. Wash away all my guilt and make me clean again. I know about my wrongs. I can’t forget my sin. You are the one I have sinned against. I have done what you say is wrong. So you are right when you speak. You are fair when you judge me. I was brought into this world in sin. In sin my mother gave birth to me. You want me to be completely truthful. So teach me wisdom. Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Make me hear sounds of joy and gladness. Let the bones you crushed be happy again. Turn your face from my sins. Wipe out all my guilt.

Create in me a pure heart, God. Make my spirit right again. Do not send me away from you. Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me. Give me back the joy that comes when you save me. Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong. And sinners will turn back to you. God, save me from the guilt of murder. God, you are the one who saves me. I will sing about your goodness. Lord, let me speak so I may praise you. You are not pleased by sacrifices. Otherwise, I would give them. You don’t want burnt offerings. The sacrifice God wants is a willing spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for its sin.

Then the apostles began to argue about which one of them was the most important. But Jesus said to them, “The kings of the world rule over their people. Men who have authority over others are called ‘very important.’ But you must not be like that. The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the leader should be like the servant. Who is more important: the one sitting at the table or the one serving him? You think the one at the table is more important. But I am like a servant among you! You men have stayed with me through many struggles. My Father has given me the power to rule. I also give you authority to rule with me. You will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will sit on thrones and judge the 12 tribes of Israel.”

It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. Jesus knew that it was time for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. He had always loved those who were his own in the world, and he loved them all the way to the end. Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already persuaded Judas Iscariot to turn against Jesus. (Judas was the son of Simon.) Jesus knew that the Father had given him power over everything. He also knew that he had come from God and was going back to God. So during the meal Jesus stood up and took off his outer clothing. Taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers’ feet. He dried them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You don’t understand what I am doing now. But you will understand later.”  Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash your feet, then you are not one of my people.” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head, too!” Jesus said, “After a person has had a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you men are clean, but not all of you.” Jesus knew who would turn against him. That is why Jesus said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and sat down again. Jesus asked, “Do you understand what I have just done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ And this is right, because that is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash each other’s feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have done for you.