John 12 + 13 - Washed

John 12:1-8

Washed in Humility.

Feet as a Symbol

Feet were considered lowly, dirty, and often dishonorable in Jewish culture.

By anointing Jesus’ feet, John emphasizes Mary’s humility and posture of worship. She’s not anointing Him as a king in the conventional sense but as a suffering servant who will soon be “lifted up.”

Humility in worship is a sacrifice.

1.) Humility Cost us something.

The pint of pure nard would have been a very expensive amount of ointment, as is clear from Judas’s estimate that it amounted to a year’s wages.

Value of the Nard

The perfume (nard, μύρον νάρδου πιστικῆς) was imported from India, rare and very costly—John says it was worth 300 denarii, about a year’s wages for a laborer.

In Jewish burial customs, perfumes and ointments were used to prepare bodies for burial. So Mary’s act is not only lavish but also prophetically anticipates Jesus’ death and burial, linking devotion with impending sacrifice.

Culturally, extravagance in devotion to God (like the lavish temple sacrifices, or David dancing before the ark) was understood as legitimate worship—even when it seemed excessive to bystanders.

1 Chronicles 21:24 “24 King David answered Ornan, “No, I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the Lord what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

cost is the avenue away from comfort.

some of us wont even give a 10% of a year’s wage to honor Jesus…

Mary embodies true worship that transcends social, cultural, and gender norms, while Judas embodies false discipleship.

(piety; biblical philly Karen; virtue signaling).

2.) Pride always pollutes you; costs you something too.

“if they really loved God and people, they’d stop spending money on buildings and just give it all away.”

Jesus and the NT has plenty of rebuke for those who don’t care for the poor, and especially those within the household of faith. Jesus rebuffed the misunderstood motive in the gift and extravagance.

Often, when we get on our moral high-horse, it’s where pride has polluted our virtue into a vice…this case, greed instead of generosity and offense instead of humility. (v5-8) Pride blinds you to your reality…cannot be honest about yourself; you’re dishonest; distorted honesty.

Hospitality Culture

In Jewish and broader Mediterranean culture, hospitality was sacred. Welcoming a guest involved food, honor, and often the washing of feet, especially since sandals and dusty roads left them dirty.

What Mary does goes beyond expected hospitality—she doesn’t simply provide water for Jesus’ feet (a servant’s job) but pours out costly perfume and wipes them with her own hair. This is an extravagant act of devotion that breaks cultural norms.

John 13:4-11

Humility in washing feet is service.

In their world, masters never washed disciples’ feet. By doing so, Jesus is embodying a kingdom ethic: the last shall be first, and leaders must serve. Written late in the first century, John’s Gospel was likely received in a setting where status divisions (between Jews and Gentiles, men and women, free and slave) threatened unity. The foot washing is both countercultural (subverting hierarchy) and spiritually formative (modeling ongoing forgiveness and self-giving love).

1.) washing feet is an act of humble service.

It was clearly intended to be a symbolic act, symbolic both of cleansing and of humble service.

It actually was likely seen as an act of weakness..

think about it, the person with the most power in the room, stooped to an act of weakness…it was really meekness on display.

Humility is a paradoxical way to live and lead. It fosters connection not conflict.

in Marriage, we say, “OUT SERVE EACH OTHER”. The reason that works in restoring connection in a marriage, isn’t because they simply get their needs met. It’s because humble service breaks down the entitlement and the pride of the other. It washes them with goodness, they begin to clearly see the contrast of goodness and disgust of entitlement or envy.

Serving others breaks you, then them.

Like Jesus serving the disciples feet in the chosen…it’s reorients us toward connection and desire to serve them, as we are served.

Just as He takes the servant’s towel here, He will take the role of the suffering servant (Isaiah 53) on the cross.

the cross brought us to connection with God

“the closer you get to goodness, the more easy it is to see how bad the previous was.”

2. ) washing feet is a metaphoric act, illustrating honor through practical service.

Meals were taken reclining at a low table. A person’s feet would be close to others, so washing them was both practical and symbolic—ensuring purity at a shared table.

holding babies - person with masters degree

parking cars - leader of large organization

leading kids small group - business owner doing millions in business

sacrificial giving - farmers with inconsistent income and elderly on fixed income

camera operators and coffee making being done by teenagers

That’s washing feet today…honor for other believers through service.

If serving is beneath you, leading is beyond you. If service is beneath you, Jesus is beyond you.

Signup for Basics and begin to serve others.

3.) Having your feet washed, is receiving cleansing ministry from Jesus.

Foot washing becomes a metaphor for the ongoing cleansing of sin. They are “clean” because of His word (John 15:3), but still need continual washing as they walk in a defiled world.

illus: He gets us video. Jesus was a cleansing sacrifice and suffering servant for all who would accept it (but that was his blood on the cross, not this. He does meets us where we are…but foot washing wasn’t the most biblical way to get their point accross.

This is why it’s important to think biblically…jesus washed the disciples feet, but made sure they knew, that non-disciples needed to be fully washed. But he provided that too, through His blood.

Washing your feet, is how we get washed ongoingly as saints, who have already been “washed in the blood”. It washes our union with Jesus. Jesus washes us with the living water of the Spirit. His loving presence, cleanses us from the dirt of day.

Today, The Holy Spirit invites us into a life of ongoing ministry to Jesus and ministry to each other.

love jesus through loving other disciples.

John 12:25–26 “25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

John 13:34–35 “34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

Ministering to the Lord in our worship is a prophetic act - pointing others to the ONLY ONE WORTHY of such extravagant expression of affection.

1 Peter 2:5 “you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Show up to our gatherings ready to minister to Jesus and to others.

Calls to Action:

Step further into worship that cost you.

Sign up for Basics and join a ministry team.

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Talk it Over (being honest & open with friends, a spouse, or your Group)

The message was about washing and worshipping. What is one idea from Sunday’s message that impacted you?

Read John 12:1-8. What is the Holy Spirit saying through these verses?

What is the significance of Mary anointing Jesus' feet instead of His head in John 12:1-8?

What sacrifices are can you begin to make in our worship to honor Jesus?

How does pride act as a barrier to genuine worship and service?

Read John 13:1-11. What is the Holy Spirit saying through these verses?

How would you define humility?

How can you practice humility in your everyday interactions with friends and family?