Jesus Washes Feet
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Any sports fans in the room? Anybody watch the Superbowl this year?
I am athletically reclined and have never been interested in watching or playing sports. When I got to high school, I took off season where I cold lift weights as much as I could, until they made me play something, so I did track and field. My coach made me decide between music or sports, so I chose music. My dad didn’t watch sports on tv when I was a kid, either. But, I did watch the Superbowl this year.
At the 2024 Super Bowl, an advertisement for He Gets Us. It depicted various types of people having their feet washed including blacks, Native Americans, LGBTQ, immigrants, Muslims, etc. All the people that have had historic tensions with or tend to feel hurt or unwelcome in the Church. It stated, “Jesus Didn’t teach hate, He washed feet. He gets us. All of us.”
Their website declares that,
“The campaign exists to remind us of the example that Jesus set while inviting all to explore his teachings so we can all follow his example of confounding, unconditional love.”
Christians I’ve talked to either love it or hate it.
I’m not here to sway your opinion, but rather to take a look at the actual passage and sit with it for awhile.
We will read through it a few times, slowly. Let it wash over you.
John 13:1–17 (ESV)
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. 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.”
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.
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. 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.”
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.
Now let me give you some background and set the stage:
John 13:4 (FSB): First-century Jews typically wore two layers—an outside robe and an inside robe against their skin.
John 13:4 (FSB): Here, Jesus strips Himself of what is likely His only possession on earth and only identification as a rabbi (rabbis were often recognized by their robes).
The details are revealing: Jesus took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist—thus adopting the dress of a menial slave, dress that was looked down upon in both Jewish and Gentile circles (SB 2. 557; Suetonius, Caligula, 26)
John 13:5 (FSB): This is an act that only slaves performed. When the master of a wealthy household returned from a journey or, at times, a day of labor, a slave would wash his feet. People wore open-toed sandals in the first century, which would have made this an unpleasant task.
Given that animals were the given transport of the day, dust may not have been the only thing needed to wash off of feet. ;)
John 13:3–5 (PNTC Jn): Doubtless the disciples would have been happy to wash his feet; they could not conceive of washing one another’s feet, since this was a task normally reserved for the lowliest of menial servants. Peers did not wash one another’s feet, except very rarely and as a mark of great love. Some Jews insisted that Jewish slaves should not be required to wash the feet of others; this job should be reserved for Gentile slaves, or for women and children and pupils (Mekhilta § 1 on Ex. 21:2). In one well-known story, when Rabbi Ishmael returned home from synagogue one day and his mother wished to wash his feet, he refused on the ground that the task was too demeaning. She took the matter to the rabbinic court on the ground that she viewed the task, in his case, as an honour
Called to serve
Jesus does what would have humiliated anyone else in His day, but He was secure in who He was. He was willing to break traditions, social norms, willing to face the awkward and misunderstood, willing to wash the feet of even His betrayer. But no matter how hard He scrubbed, Judas would not come clean in his heart. Judas was unwilling to be made clean and held on to his dirt.
Let’s read it again and see if anything pops out to you, this time in the NLT:
John 13:1–17 (NLT): Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” 10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Oh the beauty of our LORD who condescended to wash us. The humility of Jesus to debase Himself so, acting as a slave, stooping, cleansing the filth of the road, animals, dust, sweat, and stink. How dare any of His followers scoff at the call to humility and service or deny His call to cleansing.
This would be His only instance of such an act, but His posture and demeanor were always, love and humility.
Listen to the humility of Jesus as Paul writes of Him in Php.
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
Mk. 10:45
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus wants and needs to wash His disciples.
He is doing a few things here:
1. Modeling servant-leadership
This type of leadership is the most effective and highly researched. But Jesus wasn’t just trying to influence them to fulfil His business goals, etc. He was trying to cleanse them and unite them with God. Jesus calls us to humble ourselves and serve those around us rather than living for ourselves or thinking only of ourselves or assuming someone will do or should do the task.
?? Who in your life might our LORD be calling you to serve?
Your parents? A neighbor? A teacher? Someone at work?
2. Modeling humility
Though Jesus only did this once, it needed to be done daily. They were to do it for each other, but they would be mindful of how Jesus did it for them, always. Jesus wasn’t concerned with being looked down on. He was concerned with honor, but His view of honor was the esteem that comes from God. He didn’t care about the glory the Pharisees gave to themselves. He didn’t care about special clothing, positions, and titles. He cared about honoring His Father.
?? Who do you think you are better than? Who do you think of most? They say, “humility doesn’t mean never thinking of yourself. It means thinking of yourself less.” How often do you consider the opinions and feelings of others?
Has your position, money, influence, place in the family or work or society, your education, etc. caused you to think that you are beneath humbling yourself?
Bill Murray was invited to a college student party and went. He ended up doing all of the dishes! Multi-million dollar superstar doing dishes. Unforgettable!
Can a CEO listen to the idea of a new employee? Can a distinguished grandfather apologize to his grandson? Can a husband take an interest in his wife’s hobby?
3. Prophetic act.
He was doing and speaking a prophetic act pointing to salvation and sanctification. His washing us of our sins and continually doing so in ongoing cleansing. The bath signifies salvation (He already declared them clean through the words he spoke over them. He can declare people forgiven as we have seen throughout the Gospels.) The foot washing represents ongoing cleansing as we travel through this life.
Oh how intimate this is. Jesus would pay for their sins on the cross, but here… He washes. There is a difference between having a fine paid and being made clean in this intimate process, face to face, skin to skin.
4. Invitation.
There is an invitation here we don’t want to miss. Though we already looked at the prophetic act, we don’t want to just look at it, we want to cooperate with God’s Spirit and receive all that God has for us. There is an invitation here to be washed from the filth of the day.
As we travel this world, there is a residue that can accumulate and it needs attention. sometimes we accidentally step in something and other times, we willingly walk into the mire. Some days our feet are cleaner than others, but there is always daily dust to be washed by our LORD.
5. Warning us.
Lastly, we must understand that without regular cleansing of the filth of our days, we will regularly miss out on our part in what He is doing.
As the MSG captures the feel of verse 8:
Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”
8 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.”
Oh we don’t want to miss out! To miss being a part of what God is doing!!!
Imaginative Prayer
Imagine yourself as one of the disciples. You are unclean from the road, dusty, crusty, gross, and sweaty feet. You don’t anyone to get a close view of them, let alone, your Rabbi. He debases Himself and takes on the form of a servant and wraps a towel around Himself and begins washing everyone’s feet. How could He do that!
Salvation
Now for those who have never accepted the LORD. For those who have not had the bath of salvation. He invites you to place your faith in Him. If you want to receive His offer of salvation and the forgivenss of sins, you simply need to admit that you have sinned, done things that God does not approve of, ask for forgiveness, and believe that He died for your sins and rose from the dead. You can do that now as you imagine Him approaching you now.
For His disciples
See yourself now, not with the dirty feet, but with the filth of the week. Maybe there are some sins that you have committed, things you’ve seen, done, thought that you shouldn’t have. Shows or website that you should not have looked at stick to you and He can see it all there and He doesn’t look away. He wants to wash it clean. Things that you have said to others in anger, pride, and bitterness, and it is there clearly in view on Him. He doesn’t look away. He looks directly at you. Face to face. Those things you have thought of others, unclean thoughts and imaginings, unforgiveness, etc. There it is, all before Him. He does not approve. But if you will let Him, He will wash it away.
See the concern in His eyes, but also the love. Feel the cleansing of the water. Feel how clean you are because of His sanctifying water. Be made clean.
Oh LORD, reveal to me
wash me
keep me
1 John 1:8–9 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Maybe you’ve asked the LORD for forgiveness and salvation, but not a daily wash. Maybe you have not felt cleansed. Receive that today.
