If Tomorrow Were Your Last Day Would You Wash Feet

If you knew tomorrow was your last day, what would you do with the hours you have left? That question drives a powerful, Scripture-centered reflection from Sister Deb Osborne as we open John 13:1–5 and watch Jesus do something shocking: He wraps Himself in a towel and washes the disciples’ feet. It’s not a metaphor for “being nice.” It’s the King of Kings choosing the lowest place, turning authority into service, and showing what real Christian humility looks like when the stakes could not be higher. 

We talk through why foot washing was such a humbling act in Jesus’ time, and why it still confronts our pride today. Then the message goes deeper: Jesus washes the feet of Judas, the betrayer, and He serves disciples who will deny Him, doubt Him, and scatter. That kind of love rewrites our categories for forgiveness, mercy, and servant leadership. If Jesus can kneel to serve the people who will fail Him, what does that say about how we treat the people who disappoint us? 

We also wrestle with urgency. We are not promised tomorrow, and every conversation could be our last chance to make things right, encourage someone, or point a friend toward salvation through Jesus Christ. The challenge is practical and direct: drop the pride, stop waiting, and pick up the towel. Subscribe for more Bible teaching, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review. What’s one “towel moment” you need to live out this week?

Transcript

Welcome Thanks And How To Connect

SPEAKER_03 0:00

But I woke up this morning with mama. So I woke up this morning with mama.

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Praise the Lord. Glory to God. You're listening to Bible talk with Sister Deb Osborne. I'd like to give thanks to all the supporters and listeners of the show. Hey, go visit our website at H O R 421 Show.buzzprout.com. Always keep us in your prayers as we spread the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you'd like to contact Sister Deb, you can email her at OsborneDebra K at gmail.com. It's O S B O R N E D E B R A K at Gmail.com. And if you'd like to support the show, you can support it through PayPal slash H O R 421. Or you can go through our website at H O R 421 Show. Buzzsprout.com. Now I give you your host, sister, host, E Bob.

SPEAKER_00 1:07

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. So glad to be back today in the studio talking about the word of God. Amen. Um I uh sound a little bit weird today because I'm not feeling my 100%, but that's okay because we're gonna talk about the Lord in the Bible. Amen. So if I sound funny, please just overlook me and pray for me. So

The One Day Left Question

SPEAKER_00 1:35

today uh I want to talk about something Jesus did. I want to show you or maybe a lesson that we could all learn from our Lord and Savior. John 13, 1 through 5. I'm gonna start and ask you about a question. What would you do if you knew that you only had one day to live? If you knew that you were gonna die tomorrow at sundown, what would you do? Would you shift from your old self and think about others? Uh instead of seeking glory or personal pleasure? Would you focus on serving others? Would you spend all your time left with family? Would you make phone calls to loved ones? Uh who would you choose to spend that last few hours with? Would what would the last few conversations be? Would you sit and make a bucket list that morning? I mean, let me tell you a story. It's in it's in John 13, and it's verses one through five, and I am going to read those for you. And the

John 13 Read Aloud

SPEAKER_00 2:53

Bible says John 13, verses one through five, now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil now having put into the heart of Judas, Simon's son, to betray him. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he was come from God and went to God. He riseth from supper and he laid aside his garments, and took a towel and girded himself. After that he poureth water into the basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he had he was girded. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord when you Jesus, knowing that his death was imminent, he used that that little time that he had left to give his disciples one more proof of his love for them. And he did something a lot of people wouldn't want to do today. I mean, he washed their feet. Now, my one thing is can you imagine the quietness in the room when Jesus stood up and started rapping his sephony? I mean, I mean, the our Lord and Savior wrapped a towel around his waist and he knelt down and he washed dirty feet. The King of kings and the Lord of Lords knelt before his creation. Can you imagine that? Can you imagine the quietness that was in the room? Now John tells us that Jesus knew that his hour would come to the depart out of this world to his father. And Jesus is fully aware that this day had been preordained by his father. He knows that his life had been lived for this moment, for this very moment, and the next moments up until his death. This is the point that all the scripture had been pointing to. Everything that had been wrote from Genesis to right now had been pointing to this time right here. All of history have been moving toward this right here. It was time for him to die. This had been his destiny since entering the womb. This has been his destiny. You know, he knew what was coming. He knew that the angry people, that his own people, would soon lead him away to die. He knew the upcoming pain, he knew the agony that was coming, but he stayed the course. He didn't waver, he didn't run, he stayed. You know, can you imagine that? Can you imagine even remotely putting yourself where our Savior was? You know, can you can it can that has that thought just ever can you just think about that? He washed feet his last few hours on earth and he washed

Why Foot Washing Was Radical

SPEAKER_00 5:53

feet. I mean, feet were disgusting back then. I mean they're and it's quite amazing because of course now they're not pristine today in today's world. But back then the grime and the dirt uh of the world had to have been on the feet. I mean, back then, uh, you know, they walked. It was customary for them. They walked everywhere, from place to place, and they walked in sandals. You know what I'm saying? Uh during Jesus' time, they walked long distance in these on these dusty roads and sandals. And can you imagine how dirty the feet probably were? And it was customary back then for the Jewish culture uh at that time for the host to arrange water, a water basin at the door for people, you know, to come in and wash their feet. And normally that task was done by, upon their arrival, by the lowliest member of the family, which more than likely most of the time was a slave. But it certainly wasn't done by the host of the meal. Amen. But Jesus Christ took it upon himself, he humbled himself, and he did the task of a servant. Now, can you imagine the king of England washing somebody's feet, or the governor of Kentucky, or the president? Can you imagine these people washing somebody's feet? Wow, I mean, I can't even imagine it. But but while we're thinking about this, while we're thinking about the feet that he washed, we don't overlook the crowd that was there with him in in that that room. You know what I'm

Jesus Washes Judas Too

SPEAKER_00 7:25

saying? Don't that don't we can't overlook the crowd. Jesus was defeated his enemy. He was defeated Judas, the very one who's gonna betray him. See, Jesus knew that kiss of betrayal was coming. He knew that it was coming. But yet he washed the feet of his betrayer. And friends, I imagine humbling yourself to serve someone who you knew was gonna betray you. That's exactly what Jesus did for all of us. Jesus showed his love for his disciples by washing their feet. Jesus served those who should have been serving him. And my friends, today my point of this is to let you know that this is exactly the example that each and every one of us need to follow. Because the night before he was to die, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords got down and he washed feet. If it was beneath if it was not beneath him, then what should we be willing to do for each other? So when you read John 13, one through one and through three, four, five, that gives you a good story. This Jesus knew that his hour had come, and having loved his own uh who were in the world, he loved them to the very end, is what the word of God says. He loved them to the very end. His love for his own people is what motivates these final few days, these final days for him. This is his love for his people. The very old ones that he had preached to for how many years, and and you know, had walked and talked with them and performed their miracles, and and the very ones that were his people. He's loving these people to the very fullest extent, to the very end of his life. And he knows the cost. Now tell me, what kind of love is that? Think about that. What kind of love is that? To me, it's a love that serves people even when it's not appreciated. It's a love that forgives, forgives when it's even when it's been wounded. It's a love that keeps coming and keeps keeps giving even when it knows that rejection is coming. Amen. Jesus spent his final hours not demanding to be served, but serving others. So so think about this, people. If we knew tomorrow was our last day, would we spend it being angry at people, at somebody? Would we spend it holding on to bitterness? Would we keep score of every wrong that had been done to us in our lives? Would we hope would we be thinking about these people and wondering, well, why haven't they come and talked to me? Why haven't they come and said I'm sorry? Why haven't this? Why would we be questioning the things of the past that we should be letting go of? Jesus didn't. In his final hours, he chose humility. He chose service. Friends, he chose love.

Stop Waiting To Forgive

SPEAKER_00 10:40

And the question is not only, what would you do if you knew you were gonna die tomorrow? The question is, what are you waiting for? Why why or why wait until tomorrow to forgive others? Why wait until tomorrow to tell someone about Jesus? Why wait until tomorrow to love and to serve and to encourage and to make things right? Why wait? We are not promised tomorrow. Jesus knew his tomorrow was coming. And what did he do? He washed feet. He was trying to secure the disciples' salvation. He washed their feet. He gave them instructions. He talked to them. Friends, why were we choosing to do this tomorrow when we don't even know we're going to be here tomorrow? None of us are promised tomorrow. Friends, one day, every one of us are going to live out our last day. Now we may not know when it was, when it will come, but we know it's coming. Jesus knew his final hours were at hand. And he spent them loving people, serving people, and preparing the way for their salvation. Maybe we all, we all need to live every day with that same heart. If tomorrow, friends, if tomorrow was your last day, what would matter the most? I would say if I could talk to people face to face and ask them that question, a lot of people's gonna say, Well, my salvation. Then friends, perhaps maybe that should be what matters today. Amen. Maybe your salvation should matter today. Why why not worry about it today instead of tomorrow? Why not do get up and do things today instead of tomorrow? We're not promised tomorrow. Friends, today is today to get up and go out and show some love. Today is today to go wash some feet. Amen. Jesus knew the cross was before him. He knew the cross was coming. In the distance, he knew the cross was coming. But what did he do? He picked up a towel. He knew the cross was waiting. He knew the nails were ready. He knew the crown of thorns was gonna happen. He knew that one disciple was gonna betray him. He knew another one was gonna deny him, and he knew that the rest of them was gonna scatter and hide. Yet in those final hours, he didn't demand a throne. He didn't seek revenge. He picked up a towel. He showed mercy. Amen. Praise the Lord. He didn't focus on himself, he focused on others. And then he went to the cross for the very old people who didn't deserve it. For the people, the broken people, the addicts, the outcast, the broken people, the mean people, the honry people, for you and for me. He went to the cross for people who didn't deserve it. See, when he knew his life here was over, he didn't spend his last hours proving his power, and he very well could have. He spent his last hours demonstrating his love. And friends, today, if his love could reach Judas with a tail, his love reached Calvary with a cross, then his love can reach each and every one of you listening to me today. Amen.

What Washing Feet Means Today

SPEAKER_00 14:31

Then he told him, He said, If I, then your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, then you also mine art to wash another's feet. He's telling us, why can't we get out there and do what he set an example for us to do? And he didn't merely perform an isolated act of kindness. Nope. He set an example for the Christian community, for the believers, for the people that say, I'm a child of God. Friends, listen to me today. Okay, say I'm I am I telling you to wash, literally wash feet. You know, they still have them in church houses. I I have a good time when when I have one, when we have one. But you see, Jesus didn't, he he w today washing feet means loving people up close and directly dealing with struggles of others. It means kneeling in humility and and and letting go of your pride and and and serve the people that don't deserve it. You know? Serve the undeserving. Jesus washed the feet of Judas, the very one that betrayed that would betray him that night, Jesus washed his feet. Why can't we kneel down and wash the feet of the people that betray us? That talk about us, that use us. He calls us to love. He calls us to love and to serve those who have wronged us. Friends, listen to me. Imagine with me, if you will, the most powerful person in the world. The most powerful person that can move mountains, that can wash away your sins, that can save your soul, the most powerful person in the world. Imagine them on them on their knees, scrumming the dirt off of your feet. See, he was all powerful. Jesus knew that his father, the Bible says, Jesus knew that his father had given him everything, all power and all glory. And he knew he came from God and he was returning to God. So what does that absolute power do? What does all of that power do that he had? What does he do with it? He doesn't demand a throne. He could have had the biggest blowout ever, could have had the biggest party, the biggest blowout ever that he wanted, but no, he didn't demand a throne. He grabs a towel. My friends, today, please let that sink in. He grabbed a towel and he showed love. He didn't just wash the feet of his favorite people there. He washed the feet of Peter, who would later deny him. He washed the feet of Thomas, who would doubt him. You've heard of doubting Thomas. And yes, my friends, Jesus knelt before the man that would sell him out. He cleansed the feet of the very one that helped walk him to his death. You know, friends, the uncomfortable truth is and this is one of the most uncomfortable truth I would say that we could all ever think about is Jesus actually he knew when his last day was. But we don't. And

Your Time Is Not Promised

SPEAKER_00 18:27

every single conversation that you have today could be your very last. Every single person that you interact with is someone that you may never walk out of your house and see again. So my question, another question is for you to think about if Jesus used his final hour to serve the very people who would fail him, and what are we doing with ours? What are we doing with ours? What are we waiting on? Why are we waiting? Why are we holding on to our status and our anger, our right to be right? When we know our time, the Bible says it's just a vapor, right? If your clock ran out tonight, would you would your final hours look like Christ? Friends, if your clock ran out right now, tonight, would your final hours look like the hours of Jesus Christ? We need to stop waiting for a better time to forgive. We need to stop waiting until we feel like serving. Because we don't know when that last hour's gonna be. My friends, Jesus knew. We would we don't know that. So my advice is today drop your pride. Pick up a towel and wash some feet while you still have time. Amen. Listen to me. My brothers and sisters, my friends, the hands that washed Judas's feet were the same hands that would soon be pierced by nails later. That is how far Jesus is willing to go to prove his love for you and for me.

SPEAKER_02 20:25

Let that sink in for a few minutes. Now I'm gonna leave you with a question.

SPEAKER_00 20:38

Jesus proved his love for you and me with a tail, a cross, and an empty tomb. He washed the feet of his betrayers, he carried the cross of his enemies, and he gave his life for our salvation. So my question is, how far are we willing to go in our obedience and our service and our love for him? How far are we willing to go? We see how far he went. We see the things he done. He gave his life on the cross. God gave his son up to die on the cross of Calvary. My friends, to keep us out of hell. There's nothing else he can do.

SPEAKER_02 21:33

He made the ultimate sacrifice.

SPEAKER_00 21:40

He made the ultimate sacrifice. So what are you gonna do? You don't know what tomorrow brings. We don't know when our time in front of I look at life as being a line. We're standing in it. And everybody has a spot at the front of that line at one point in time. We have to take our spotlight in the front of that line. And when we get up to the front of that line, we can't let others go before us. We can't tell the people behind us to come on. We can't step aside and say, go on. It's not gonna be a time that we're gonna be able to have courtesy because that's our time in the front of that line. Friends, we don't know when that's coming. So I'm asking you now, what are you gonna do to show your love for Jesus Christ? We need to get up, get out of out of our houses, out of our homes, turn our phones off, turn our TVs off, and we need to wash some feet. We need to pick up a towel, and we need to do a service. That's all I've got for today.

Final Challenge And Closing

SPEAKER_00 22:50

I hope this has blessed you as much as it's blessed me to bring it to you. I really, really desire your prayers. Please say a prayer for me today. Um, God bless everybody. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 23:02

I woke up this morning with my mom. Stay on Jesus.

SPEAKER_04 23:10

You've been listening to Bible Talk with Sister Deb Osman. Hey, go visit our website at HOR421 Show.bowsprout.com for all your latest content and information. Recorded at the 421 Studio. For contact information, you can email at HOR421 Ministries at gmail dot com. Phone numbers 239-849-1502.

SPEAKER_03 23:51

I'm walking down with my mind. I'm thinking of writing with my mind.