John 13:1-17 NIV
13 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Last week our study was in Luke 22:24-30. Luke briefly wrote about, “An Unpleasant Moment At The Dinner Table” that none of the other three gospel writers wrote about, “…a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.” Luke 22:24. Luke, in his account, tells us what Jesus TAUGHT concerning this matter, but when we read what John’s account was of that same night at the dinner table, he tells us what also Jesus DID.
We need to remember John was one of the thirteen at the dinner table and was the one reclining next to Jesus, “One of them (John), the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him (Jesus)” John 13:23. This is one reason why the apostle John in his gospel starting with chapter thirteen and ending in chapter seventeen tells us in greater detail what Jesus said and did during his last meal with His disciples more than any other of the three writers in their gospels.
When we read together Luke’s and John’s account of the last Passover meal Jesus had with His disciples, (Luke 22:24-30) (John 13:1 to 14:31) it gives us a better understanding of one of the reasons why Jesus washes his disciple’s feet. However, it is John’s account that tells us what Jesus did to give disciples a living example of what the person who was the greatest among them did in love, which to be a humble servant to all of them.
What John wrote about in John 13:1-17 tells us about something of great spiritual importance but he also describes something we might not understand in our present-day situation and also because of our western culture. Keeping in mind what we studied last week about the Unpleasant Moment At The Dinner Table what Luke wrote about, would explain the cultural reason why Jesus washes his disciple’s feet.
The roads of that time were not paved; as a result, when it rained, there was a lot of mud and when it was dry, there was a lot of dust. Also in addition to that was the animal traffic and what the animals left behind which was mixed in with the dirt that ended up on your feet. In addition, because most everyone wore sandals or went barefooted your feet were constantly dirty. As a result, there was the custom that in most homes that there was a container of water and a towel at the door of the house to wash your soiled feet.
What also was not present at the Passover meal that night which was common in many homes, was a servant to wash the disciple’s feet as they entered in the house to eat.
In addition, another very important thing that was also missing at the Passover meal among the apostles was the humility and the desire among the twelve to do this common and humble task to each other. Finally, what was obviously present was the pride they all had, which was the cause of the dispute that they had with each other, which Luke mentions in Luke 22:24, “Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.”
What John writes about in his account of what Jesus had to do in this last Passover meal was not only a great lesson that each one of the disciples needed to learn not only by what Jesus taught them as we saw last week in Luke 22:24-30, but also a lesson of greater importance which was the lesson learned from Jesus demonstrating His love for all of them by washing their feet.
Jesus was not demonstrating his displeasure of the disciple’s pride with a sarcastic act by washing their feet. Nor was He washing their feet as an open rebuke because no one came forward to do this task. If we personally know Jesus because of our intimate relationship with Him and know Him through His Word, we understand that the Jesus we personally know would not be motivated to wash the disciple’s feet for these reasons.
From our own personal experience of how Jesus loves us, we can easily recognize Jesus’ motive when we read what He did, it was because of His love for the disciples which included Judas. “…he now showed them the full extent of his love”, John 13:13.
Jesus’ humble demonstration of His love for His disciples by washing their feet is the primary lesson among the others that we should recognize. How many times have we experienced in our own relationship with Jesus His love for us in spite of our unconfessed sin and pride? “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
Please note, I am not saying Jesus, in His love for us, overlooks or condones unconfessed sin and pride that we are permitting in our lives. If that were the case Jesus would not have to die for the forgiveness of our sins and the freedom from being slaves to sin.
1 John 2:1-2, 1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Although the disciples had been arguing among themselves who was the greatest (Luke 22:24), and their pride did not let them do what should have been done before eating, Jesus did not point out these wrongs, instead “…he now showed them the full extent of his love”, John 13:13.
When Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, He also gave them a lesson that there is only one kind of greatness in the kingdom of God, the greatness of humble and sometimes not to dignified service to others. Jesus washing the disciple’s feet in love did what none of the other twelve was willing to do for each other. In less than twenty-four hours, Jesus would do for them in love that none of them could do, die for their sins.
“2 The evening meal was being served, … 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:2,4-5.
It is easy for us to say to someone “I love you”, but do we also demonstrate our love for that person by our actions? Does what we do in humble service for others say, “I love you”?
1 John 3:18, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” James 3:13, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
Jesus’ actions of washing the disciple’s feet that night at the dinner table spoke first before the words He spoke to them about the lesson they need to learn and practice as we see in the following verses.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
In many situations, we need to learn from Jesus to show others how much we love them by our humble actions of service in addition to telling them how we love them.
Pastor John
