The Gospel of John - part 32
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
Chapter 13 begins what is known as the “Farewell Addresses”.
John records a series of teachings in 13-17 which compose the last messages of Jesus before being crucified. Though we know Jesus will rise from the dead, it would help to understand the significance of these teachings as coming from someone who knew the end was near. What would you want your family to know if your time on earth would end this week? These are his brothers, and he addresses them as brothers.
However, consider this:
Because Jesus is alive, his farewell addresses are not just for the 12 apostles, but also for all who call themselves a disciple of Christ.
John records these things so that we may know we have eternal life. And, part of that life is living in the truth of these lessons we will examine in chapters 13-17.
He begins with washing their feet.
Humility out of Love
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:1-5
Before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knew his time had come to be crucified. John’s phrase ‘he loved them to the end’ is an emphatic Greek phrase that demonstrates the extent of Jesus’ love—He utterly loves them. John is not saying Jesus loved His disciples until He died, but that He loved them to the extent that it is possible for Jesus to love. Telos is the Greek for ‘end’ or ‘goal’. Here it has the nuance of ‘completely’ or ‘to the uttermost’. Part of Jesus’ mission on earth is to demonstrate love. John uses the theme of love throughout his gospel and even more so in his letters. Jesus demonstrates His love completely by going to the cross, but here we have a foreshadowing of this loving humility in the form of foot washing.
The love of Jesus is beyond what we can measure.
We have discussed before the context of first century foot washing. It was a task for the lowest servant, and certainly not one for the leader of the house or the guest of honor. For Jesus to wash the disciples’ feet is certainly a lesson in humility of leadership, however there is something even more significant to the meaning of the text which we will come to in verses 6-10. For now, let’s consider verse 3. Jesus, knowing the Father had given all things to him, knowing that He was returning to God, rose from the supper and began washing the disciples’ feet. If Jesus has already demonstrated the love of God, and His mission is about to be completed on the cross, then why does He feel prompted to wash their feet? It is so the disciples, and we, can understand the sovereign will of the cross. The cross did nothing for God. It was not necessary for God to save us, it was an act of love. Here, it was not necessary for Jesus to wash their feet, it was simply an act of love in the form of an object lesson.
The washing of the feet was a lesson in the selfless love of Christ.
Cleaning the cleaned
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 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.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
John 13:6-11
Peter’s attitude is typical of most Christians. One commentator said, “Peter is humble enough to see the incongruity of Christ’s action, yet proud enough to dictate to his Master.” (Morris 617 citing MacGregor) Most Christians have the humility to serve, but they typically want to serve on their own terms. “Jesus is Lord, but I can throw in my two cents, too.” Verse 7 is a key verse for this passage. The disciples do not understand at the moment what Jesus is doing, but afterward they will. After what? In verses 14-20, Jesus explains the lesson in humility, but even with that explanation I’m not sure the disciples understood until after the resurrection. Right up until Jesus is arrested, the disciples understood Jesus to be the Messiah who would conquer their foes. But the lesson here is not about the role of leadership per se, it is about to what extent Jesus is willing to serve those who call Him Lord and Master.
Eleven of the disciples are already clean, but they require an attitude adjustment. Peter doesn’t want Jesus to wash his feet, because Jesus is Lord and should not be doing the washing. Jesus responds that without the washing, Peter has no share. So, of course, Peter says, ‘then wash all of me’. Jesus tells him he is already clean, only his feet need washing.
Peter’s attitude demonstrates the self-centeredness of humanity.
It’s the Burger King—have it your way—mentality of corrupted humanity. It has always been present since the Fall, but it is even more prevalent today in our consumerist culture. Jesus condemns this attitude saying, “If I do not wash, you have no share with me.” Peter was saved, to be sure, but Peter’s attitude was going to prevent him from sharing in the glory of Christ. I can think of no greater tragedy in the Church today than how this attitude has permeated Christian culture. It is the attitude that acknowledges who is God, but still believes they can dictate orders to God. It’s found in the heresy of prosperity, and it’s found in well-intentioned churches who cater to the wants of their members to the detriment of the gospel message. It’s a consumerist mentality that believes the wants of the people are more important than the message of Christ. Not all churches are guilty of this, but too many are. And, I will add, it is not just ‘contemporary churches’ that are guilty. Many have railed against the modern church movement with lights and smoke, a cool band, and a hipster preacher that can’t tuck in his shirt. But, the traditional model of hymnal worship and 19th-early 20th century church designs can just as easily be a chain that holds a church down.
Consumerism is a sinful attitude that puts the person in front of Christ.
Whether the person wants a hymnal or a 70” tv doesn’t matter…it’s still a sinful attitude. Let’s say a person visits our church, they are saved, baptized, and want to do a special music. They decide to play their guitar while they sing.
Now, some of you might be thinking, “I like guitars, sounds good.”
Some of you might think, “not sure about that guitar”.
What I am trying to explain is that both of these statements are wrong. Worship isn’t about what you want! It’s about what God has done for us! I just told you someone was saved, and you started thinking about a guitar! If our priority is on glorifying Christ, then the particulars of what instruments we use, what music we play, what classes we teach, and everything else in our church will work itself out.
The Explanation
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
John 13:12-20
Here, we learn the significance of the event. Verse 15: For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. The lesson is for us to do the things Jesus has done. Now, we typically take this to mean ‘be humble like Jesus’, and that is certainly one aspect. But consider again how Jesus corrected Peter’s attitude.
Have you ever been a part of a foot washing ceremony? There are churches who make it a regular practice. As a youth minister, I have been a part of a few. It is a great lesson for teenagers to wash each other’s feet when looking at this passage. It is a tremendously humbling experience—not just in washing, but also in being washed. There is a moment when you realize, “I am not worthy to have this person wash my feet.” It is certainly what the disciples felt, only much more so for them. We are not worthy for Christ to wash our feet.
If we are unworthy to have our feet washed by Christ, how much more so for our souls to be washed?
It is an attitude adjustment for disciples to wash one another’s feet. We realize our unworthiness in the Gospel story. We have done nothing to earn salvation, and all we can do is offer thanks. We cannot dictate anything to God nor can we dictate anything to each other. Paul explains humility as not thinking any more of yourself than you should, but considering others as more important than yourself. Jesus, who is worthy of all worship, did not seek glory from his disciples, but instead gave all glory to the Father and served those beneath Him. As Christians our attitudes should be like His. All glory goes to Jesus, and we do not seek glory from others, but serve those around us.
If Jesus can humble Himself for us, we can humble ourselves for others.
Verse 16 is one of those verses you should highlight in your Bible. “A servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” If we are servants of the risen Christ, then we are not better than Him. Our attitudes, our actions, our service should always reflect obedience to Him. If He is willing to humble himself, then we can too. If He is willing to take up a cross for the salvation of others, then we can too.
We give, because He gave to us.
We love, because He loved us.
We serve, because He served us.
Jesus is our example for living, for serving, and for leading.
Verse 20 shows the chain of sending. The Father sent the Son who sends the disciples who are called to make more disciples who are sent by the Son. It is that chain of discipleship that perpetuates the Christian faith and brings salvation to the lost. The effective disciple is the one who follows the footsteps of Jesus. The Lesson of Humility
Having looked section by section, we can now stand back and see the greater picture. Many times this story has been used as a lesson for servant leadership—and rightly so. However, if we see this passage as only for leaders, then we miss the meaning for us as followers. What is the lesson of humility here? We have already touched on it, but I would like to summarize with these points:
The proper attitude of a Christian is humility.
Consider Prov 3:34, James 4:6 & 1 Pet 5:5 which all repeat this phrase: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” If Jesus, who is rightly called Teacher and Lord, is willing to humble Himself for the benefit of His disciples, then we should be just as willing.
Humility prepares us for the catastrophic.
Jesus washed the disciples’ feet to prepare them for the crucifixion. They were about to see their Messiah tortured and killed, but they needed to know it was in the purpose of God’s plan. Jesus pronounced them clean, but they needed their feet washed. We should read this as a metaphor. They were Jesus’ disciples having believed and trusted in Him. However, they did not understand Jesus was heading to the cross. They needed a lesson in what was about to happen. Jesus was going to the cross not in defeat, but in victory. He was going to fulfill the mission of the Lamb of God who takes away sin, but the sacrificial lamb must give up himself for others. It was going to be a catastrophic time for the disciples. They would scatter in fear, but Sunday was coming.
Humility prepares us for glorious grace.
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The disciples needed to be prepared for Jesus’ death, but in their willingness to obey the Lord’s leading, they received the gift of the resurrection. Now, I do not mean that in the sense of their obedience led to their salvation, but rather their obedience fulfilled the proverb. God built them back up, and specifically, when we look at Peter, we see how much grace God gave. Peter may have denied knowing Jesus three times, but in Peter’s humility, Jesus restored Peter and made him a pillar in the Church. Some people really want to be something special in this life, but the way to true glory is through true humility. Proud and selfish people will always be found out and will fall away. Only the truly humble are lifted up.
It is true for individuals, and it is true for churches. To be the greatest, we have to be the least. Trying to be the ‘best’ is why churches and Christians lose their witnessing power. I don’t want to be the best preacher, I just want to be like Jesus. I don’t want us to be the best church, I just want to be a church Jesus likes. If we really want to be something special as a church, then let’s be the church Jesus likes. How? “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” If we will lose our pride, humble ourselves before the Lord, then He will build us up in His power and to His glory.