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Feet Washin'

¹ Before the Passover party, Jesus knew his time was short for this world. He knew he was leaving to go be with his Dad. But Jesus loved his cowboys up until the very end.

² They were eating the evening meal, and Judas had already made his deal with the devil. The plan was already in motion to double-cross Jesus. ³ God had put everything in Jesus's command, and he knew it. He also knew he'd come from God and was fixing to go back. ⁴ Jesus got up from the table, took off his clothes, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ He poured water in a big bowl and started washing his cowboy's feet. He dried their feet with the towel he had wrapped around his waist.

⁶ When he got to Pete, Pete said, "I ain't gonna let you lower yourself on my account. You ain't washin' my feet, Boss."

⁷ Jesus looked up and said, "You don't understand what I'm doing right now, but one day you will."

⁸ "It ain't gonna happen." Pete said, "I won't let you touch my nasty feet."

Then Jesus said, "Then you don't ride for me."

⁹ Pete changed his tone quickly and said, "Then start at my feet and then wash my hands and head!"

¹⁰ Jesus said, "Those who shower in the morning don't need a bath in the evening. They just need their feet cleaned. This is about godliness, Pete, not grime. Everyone here is clean except for one." ¹¹ Jesus knew exactly who the double-crossing cur dog was.

¹² When he was done, he put his clothes back and sat down at the table. "Do y'all know what just happened?" he asked. ¹³ "Y'all call me 'Boss' and 'Lord,' and that's what I am. ¹⁴ A good cowboy watches the Boss and does what he does. If he ain't above washin' someone's feet, then neither are y'all. ¹⁵ I have just handed you directions on how to gather the pastures. So do what I have done to you. ¹⁶ I'm telling you that the cows ain't better than the cowboys, and cowboys ain't better than the jigger boss. ¹⁷ Now that you know the circle, go ride it and gather and the Boss will bless your socks off."

Jesus Discusses His Double-Crossin'

¹⁸ "I'm not talking to all of y'all though. I know which ones of y'all are my true cowboys. What's happening right now is because the Good Book already said, 'He supped with me and then shot me in the back.' ¹⁹ I'm not telling y'all this to hear myself talk. I'm telling y'all this so that later you will understand that I predicted it and that I really am the Top Hand. I AM the Messiah—the cowboy who will save the world. ²⁰ I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes a cowboy that I send welcomes me. If they welcome me, then they welcome the Father too."

²¹ Jesus got real quiet then, and a troubled look came over his face. He looked around and said, "It's a fact, one of you is about to shoot me in the back."

²² All the cowboys looked around at each other. You could've heard a pin drop. ²³ The cowboy who Jesus loved scooted over real close to Jesus and held on to him. ²⁴ Pete caught the cowboy's eye and mouthed, "Ask who the double-crosser is."

²⁵ The cowboy nodded his head and turned to Jesus and asked quietly, "Which one is it, Boss?"

²⁶ Jesus said, "The one I hand this dipped bread to." He dipped the bread in a dish and handed it to Judas Iscariot. ²⁷ When Judas took the bread, Satan took control of him. Jesus looked him in the eye and said, "What are you waitin' on? Pull the trigger you dog." ²⁸ None of the other cowboys caught on to what was taking place. ²⁹ They thought Jesus was tellin' his treasurer to go pay for the meal or something. ³⁰ Judas, with murder in his eyes and a piece of bread in his hand, scurried out the door and into the darkness.

Jesus Predicts Pete's Denial

³¹ When Judas left, Jesus said, "It's time for the Top Hand to be honored and God is honored because of him. ³² And since God receives all the honor the Top Hand brings, he will honor his Son. He won't waste any time doing so either. ³³ Boys, my time here is shorter than a piggin' string now. When I'm gone, y'all are going to look for me. But like I told the Jews, you can't follow me this time."

³⁴ "I'm going to give you a new rule. Love each other as I have loved you. ³⁵ Anyone can claim to be one of my cowboys. This will be the proof. If you don't love each other, then you're a counterfeit cowboy."

³⁶ Pete asked, "Boss, where are you ridin' off to?"

Jesus replied, "I'm going somewhere you can't go. But later you will."

³⁷ Pete asked, "I don't understand why you won't let me come. I'd ride right through death's doorstep at a high lope for you."

³⁸ Then Jesus said, "That's big talk, Pete. Would you really die for me? Because you wait and see, before the cock crows at sunrise, you'll bail on me three times."