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 tells us 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 said concerning this issue, but when we read what John’s account 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 why the apostle John in his gospel, more than any other of the three writers in their gospels, (starting with chapter thirteen and ending in chapter seventeen) tells us in great detail what Jesus said and did during his last meal with His disciples.
When we read together Luke’s and John’s account of the last Passover meal Jesus had with His disciples, 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 and because of our western culture. Keeping in mind what we studied last week about the Unpleasant Moment At The Dinner Table that 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 added in 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 there was a container of water and a towel at the door of the house to wash your soiled feet.
What was missing at the Passover meal that was common in many homes, a servant to wash the disciple’s feet as they entered in the house to eat. What was also missing at the meal was the humbleness and desire of the disciples to do this common and modest task to each other. What was obviously present was the pride they all had, which was the cause of the dispute that they later 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 that last Passover meal was not only a great lesion that each one of the disciples needed to learn, but also a lesion of greater importance which was the lesson learned from Jesus demonstrating His love for all of them.
Jesus was not demonstrating his displeasure of the disciples 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 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 disciples 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, Judas included. “…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 lesion among the others we should recognize. How many times have we experienced in our own relationship Jesus His for us in spite of our unconfessed sin? “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 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.
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 2:1-2.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Although the disciples were arguing among themselves who was the greatest (Luke 22:24), and their pride would 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 disciples 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 our actions, what we do in humble service for others say, “I love you”? Jesus’ actions, washing the disciples feet that night at the dinner table spoke first before the words He spoke to them about the lesion they need to learn and practice.
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 we love them by our humble service before we tell them how they are to love others.
Pastor John
