“Clean Feet: The Washings of Christ”(John 13:2–17)

Series: “John: Life in Christ’s Name”Text: John 13:2–17

By: Shaun Marksbury Date: March 17, 2024

Venue: Living Water Baptist ChurchOccasion: AM Service

Introduction

There’s an interesting account in Scripture about when David was on the run from Saul. Samuel had died, and David was seeking shelter. He came upon a rich man named Nabal and his wife, Abigail. Scripture describes Nabal as harsh and evil, but his wife as intelligent and beautiful (1 Sam. 25:3). Accordingly, Nabal scorned David’s men who had come looking for shelter, risking David’s wrath. Abigail interceded, however, providing a generous gift and humbly pleaded for her husband, who was getting drunk at home. Abagail didn’t even say anything to her husband until the next day.

The Lord took Nabal’s life shortly after that (v. 38). David then heard that Nabal had died, and he reflected upon her lovely example. So, he sent servants again, this time, with a marriage proposal. She responded in the most interesting way: She said, “Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord’s servants” (v. 41). This was a sign that this humble woman accepted the proposal.

Foot-washing may seem like a strange practice to us, but it was an expected custom in that culture. We see it in our passage this morning, which obviously provides a precious picture of the Savior’s love for us. What does it mean, though? This morning, we’ll consider how foot-washing demonstrates the service of Christ, the cleansing of Christ, and then the service of Christians.

The Service of Christ (vv. 2–5)

During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

This takes place during the Last Supper, which is the best way to understand this. The other Gospels cover the important aspects this Thursday evening, such as the institution of communion. John instead focuses here on another aspect of the meal that the other Gospels don’t cover. Some wonder if foot-washing is also an institution of the Lord, although we will see that this isn’t the case.

Before we explain that, note that a certain apostle is with them. We read that Satan had already put the idea of betrayal into Judas’s heart (v. 2). Jesus, of course, knew this (cf. v. 27; 6:70), but He chose to wash even Judas’s feet.

This verse gives us a glimpse of temptation. James 1:13–15 says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” God did not produce the temptation within Judas — Satan did — but Judas still has the opportunity respond to Jesus’s service and to turn from his sin. Jesus shows all His disciples love, even the tempted ones.

This again demonstrates Jesus’s divine knowledge, as we read next. Remember, even John the Baptist demonstrated prophetic insight on this; he said, “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand” (John 3:35). Jesus knew this, and He also knew “He had come forth from God and was going back to God.” Jesus understood His own pre-existence and divine origin.

Where does Jesus’s knowledge lead Him? As Matthew Henry notes here, “I am of opinion that this was added for the purpose of informing us whence Christ obtained such a well-regulated composure of mind. It was because, having already obtained a victory over death, he raised his mind to the glorious triumph which was speedily to follow.” The Lord’s divine knowledge gave Him the ability to complete His mission and serve His disciples.

Note, then, that Jesus’s knowledge also leads Him to humility. If anyone in that room had cause for pride, it was He. Yet, we see that knowledge need not always puff up; as the Apostle Paul later says, “Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Cor. 8:1). Here, v. 1 reveals that Jesus loves His disciples to the uttermost, so we can see the example of the more excellent way in our Lord. He serves because He loves.

So, we read about this striking image of the Master in foot-washing. Consider the dusty road conditions would leave the sandaled-feet of travelers in need of washing. So, this service was typically offered to dinner guests at the beginning of a meal. Because of how people reclined on couches at the table, with their heads near the food and their feet behind them, a slave could walk around with a water basin and offer this service. Sometimes, in homes, “Wives often washed their husbands’ feet, and children washed their parents’ feet,” though most washed their own feet. In the case of rabbis and students, disciples would “perform menial tasks of labor, but touching feet was clearly not expected.” At a feast like this, usually the lowliest slave would have this task, and one study notes that the meal position could allow guests to ignore “the one washing their feet.”

Yet, it wasn’t a slave who washed the disciples’ feet this evening, but their King, and they aren’t ignoring this act! The text says that Jesus “got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded” (Vv. 4–5). John utilizes vivid grammar here as Jesus arises, removes His outer garments in a show of vulnerability, and prepares this undignified task. He serves them, much to their amazement.

Of course, our Lord expects us to also serve others. But our work begins and ends with His service. When speaking of our readiness, the Lord gives this beatitude: “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them” (Luke 12:37). In Mark 10:45, He says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” He came to serve, and the specifics of that service lead us to the next point.

The Cleansing of Christ (vv. 6–11)

So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

There seems to be a sense in the text here that Jesus didn’t start with Peter. One commentary notes, “Chrysostom conjectures that he first washed the feet of Judas, who readily admitted the honour, and was pleased to see his Master so disparage himself.” Well, whether Jesus started with someone else or came straight to Peter, Peter would not have this service done for him.

Why? Peter’s reticence is understandable, if not also with an underlying stroke of pride. As Peter earlier confessed, this is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matt. 16:16). Here, Peter calls Him “Lord.” He recognizes he’s of lower stature than Christ. So, he asks Jesus, “[A]re You going to wash my feet?” (LSB), emphasizing each of the pronouns.

Jesus, of course, is doing this to convey a deeper meaning. Jesus replies, “What I do you do not realize now,” emphasizing the pronouns back to Peter. Yet, Jesus gives him hope that he will come to a fuller understanding later. This is a call to faith in the moment, to trust His word even when there isn’t understanding.

Peter, however, doesn’t accept this call to faith. He contradicts Jesus in his typical, impulsive fashion. He emphatically asserts that Jesus will never, ever wash his feet! If Peter was excusable for questioning our Lord a moment ago, he now shows his pride, refusing to yield to anything he doesn’t like.

So, Jesus warns, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” People must receive the cleansing of Christ, spiritually speaking. Consider the New Covenant promise in Ezekiel 36:25 — “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.” As Paul says of the formerly unrighteous Corinthians, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11).” He also says in Titus 2:14 that Jesus “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” The work of Christ cleanses us of unrighteousness, purifying us for inclusion in this New Covenant community.

Peter didn’t yet understand all this. However, he understood the potential declaration against him, for having “no part” with a person was a common, semitic expression (Deut. 12:12; 2 Sam. 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16). It meant to lose the particular blessings of heirship, which has eschatological or end-times implications. Peter realizes that he has grievously overstated his objections.

So, Peter overcorrects into another error. He says, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Perhaps he is just thinking he wants extra cleansing. Whatever his justification, before he was saying Jesus is doing too much, and now, he says Jesus isn’t doing enough! It’s much better for us if we just say, “Yes, Lord, and amen,” and we leave it at that.

So, Jesus explains, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean.” This brings us to the two cleansings of Christ. The first is for salvation, where a person is washed completely and comes into the covenant community. It is the washing of regeneration, washing away our sins. This is the picture provided in baptism, for we who believe have been spiritually baptized in the redemption of Christ (Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3–4).

The second is that of progressive sanctification. To “sanctify” is to set apart, and that is certainly that happens in a moment at regeneration, the first cleansing. However, we still need to experience the ongoing, sanctifying influence of Christ as we walk through this dirty, dusty world. As MacArthur explains here, “Believers are justified and granted imputed righteousness (Phil. 3:8, 9), but still need sanctification and personal righteousness (Phil. 3:12–14)” This always begins with repentance from sin, and our Lord promises to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This is not the equivalent of salvation. Christ’s washing here is the ongoing work of sanctification. We don’t sanctify ourselves; Christ does the washing.

So, there are two washings. That’s why Jesus switches to the plural pronoun to address them as a group. The old KJV has the advantage here, translating it “ye are clean” instead of “thou art clean.” Perhaps a better translation for today is “y’all are clean.”

Of course, there is a minor difference between them and us. They are in transition, still experiencing regeneration through their observance to the Old Covenant and now, through their observance to Christ. But, still before the cross and without the giving of the Holy Spirit, they still lack what we usually mean when we talk about salvation in a New Covenant sense. At Pentecost, they will receive the fulness of the promise because they are all clean.

Except, not all of them were clean, right? The next verse reminds us that Jesus already knew of Judas’s betrayal; He knew from the beginning (John 6:64; 13:2). Judas still lacked regeneration. He could have taken a cue from the foot washing and from Peter’s excitement and asked that the Lord forgive him. After all, Jesus continues to show him grace, but he is so intent on his sin that he misses it.

I hope you don’t miss the reminders of the Lord’s grace in your life. Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Sometimes, it’s tempting to think that the open doors before you are God’s approval of your actions. However, He is giving you grace and kindness to lead you to repentance. If you haven’t accepted His love and forgiveness yet, please go to Him in prayer, confessing your sinfulness and your desire for Him to cleanse you every way He can!

For the rest of His disciples, our Lord gives a final message. This is based on His love and service. We should seek to serve as He has, bringing us to our final point.

The Service of Christians (vv. 12–17)

So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

After this stunning display of service, our Lord grabbed His outer garments and resumed His seated position. It was common back then for teachers to sit while they teach. Considering what happened, they might have held their breath while waiting for Him to speak.

He began by asking them an important question: “Do you know what I have done to you?” Of course, the answer was no — He had already said in v. 7, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Yet, Jesus still wanted them to consider the true purpose of His service to them. As one commentator noted, “The footwashing was shocking to Jesus’ disciples, but not half as shocking as the notion of a Messiah who would die the hideous and shameful death of crucifixion, the death of the damned.” They needed to consider this later.

Yet, there was an aspect of this that they could receive now. He begins in v. 13, “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.” He is a teacher, but also Lord, the title of deity in the Old Testament; this is one reason Peter (and the rest of us) should listen when He speaks! Yet, the point of this statement is in the next verse: “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” He argues argumentum a majori ad minus “which means in essence that if a greater thing is true, how much more is the lesser true.” He states this as an ought, almost as though He leaves His disciples in His debt (cf. Matt. 18:30).

What is He commanding, though? Some Christians have taken this as the institution of foot-washing in the church. They look to 1 Timothy 5:10, a verse which suggests that widows took it washing the feet of some of the members. Ambrose practiced this in the church of Milan, the pope observes this ceremony annually on Thursday during the Passion Week, and there are foot-washing Baptists today. In many parts of the world, there are still foot-washing customs. And certainly, if someone needs such a service, two Christians can uniquely demonstrate the love of Christ to each other in this way.

However, in v. 15, Jesus says, “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” It does not seem that the Lord intended the specific act of foot-washing to be a sacrament or an ordinance of the church, like baptism or the Lord’s Supper. Rather, this is an instructional example of service, signifying any one of a variety of ministries we might employ for one another.

This can begin with meeting practical needs. As one commentary notes, “Did Peter not recall this incident when in 1 Peter 5:5 he exhorts all to “gird yourselves with humility…?” We could certainly wash feet where needed, which is probably what is noted in 1 Timothy 5:10. Yet, as that isn’t what’s most necessary in our cultural context, there are many other ways in which we might show servant-like service to one another through the practice of our spiritual gifts. We should “regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Phillip. 2:3), do all things without “grumbling or disputing” (2:14), and remember our Lord’s example and that we are not greater than He.

This can also include helping each other with our struggles. As Matthew Henry notes,

We cannot satisfy for one another’s sins, this is peculiar to Christ, but we may help to purify one another from sin. We must in the first place wash ourselves; this charity must begin at home (Mt. 7:5), but it must not end there; we must sorrow for the failings and follies of our brethren, much more for their gross pollutions (1 Co. 5:2), must wash our brethren’s polluted feet in tears. We must faithfully reprove them, and do what we can to bring them to repentance (Gal. 6:1), and we must admonish them, to prevent their falling into the mire; this is washing their feet.

As we consider these ways in which we can serve, let’s conclude this message.

Conclusion

Christ promises us a blessing in v. 17 if we both know and do these things. Again, we see the charge to both listen and do. There is true joy in knowing and obeying God’s Word, but it’s more than that — there is true joy in serving one another. This joy comes through knowing that the Lord is using us to do His work in someone else’s life, a distinct privilege which assures us of the working of the Spirit through us.

This is one reason regular church attendance and membership is important. In a moment or two, we are going to welcome some familiar faces to the official membership of the church. Before we do that, though, I hope this message challenges you to consider the various ways you can each contribute to the ministry of the church.

I also hope you don’t miss the larger part of this. Such service begins with the cleansings of Christ. If you’re an unbeliever, you need Him to wash you in regeneration. If you’re a believer, you need Him to continue to sanctify you. Hopefully, the Lord can use us to communicate the need for both cleansings of Christ.

——————————————————–

Membership Affirmation of Commitment — With the aid of the Holy Spirit:

Will you be diligent to exercise self-control so that your lifestyle exhibits both true Christian love and personal holiness?

Will you faithfully assemble with this body of believers, striving to maintain unity, and doing all you can to stimulate love and good deeds in others as you seek to exercise your spiritual gifts in faithful service?

Will you consistently contribute, as a good steward of God’s blessings, such time, talent, and resources, in the measure that God prospers you, so that our local and worldwide ministry of spreading the gospel may continue?

Will you teach biblical truth to your family and acquaintances, as God gives you opportunity, with a desire to see them come to trust Jesus Christ and be saved?

Will you always be willing to both give and receive admonition and instruction with meekness and in love?

Will you commit to praying for the ministry here in this church, your brothers and sisters in Christ, the elders, pastors, and deacons; and for the lost who need the Savior?