Wash One Another's Feet
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1 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.
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
3 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,
4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
5 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.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
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.”
9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
10 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.”
11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 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?
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16 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.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Intro To Second Book Of John
Intro To Second Book Of John
New series focusing on the ‘second’ book of John (John 13-20)
A distinctive shift in the perspective of John’s gospel (Book of glory)
A final rejection by Jews (community of old covenant) signals the end of Jesus’ public ministry and the remainder of John’s gospel focuses on Jesus ministry to those he called his own, his closest followers, specifically the 12 (and soon to be 11) disciples (a private ministry)
They are given a final sign of Jesus’ love for them (the footwashing here), told to love another in unity (John 13, John17 so that a) they may bear the mark of Jesus’ disciples and b) demonstrate the reality of the gospel that God sent his Son to save those who believe in him.
Instead of signs that demonstrate to the Jews that he is the Messiah, Jesus focuses on preparing his people for his death and then their mission to spread the gospel to the whole world. John 20:21-22
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Unity, love, mission
Intro To John 13:1-17
Intro To John 13:1-17
Familiar passage of footwashing. The command to ‘wash one another’s feet’
Why dont we wash each other’s feet (as some church traditions do, or some church leaders do?) Why is it not a custom like baptism and the Lord’s supper?
Nowhere else in the New Testament or in early church history is it commanded. Specific culturally, geographically
The recognition that Jesus was demonstrating in symbolic form (though it was very real to the disciples) an example of his character, a pattern of thinking that should translate into action in the disciples life. They should emulate his example, not specifically the footwashing but rather his attitude that would lead him to the cross to die for them, so also that attitude should lead to actions that mark them out as Jesus’ disciples and adorn the gospel message that they carry
Already in John, there is a pattern of extravagant signs that convey a reality in Jesus ministry but behind that reality lies an attitude that should be emulated and will lead to similar but not the same consequences in their lives
John 12:24-25
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
It testifies to the reality that Jesus will die on the cross for our sins and bears the fruit of salvation in our lives
But that attitude would translate to the disciples life (not that they could die on the cross and save others for that was Jesus’ unique ministry) but by counting their life in this world as nothing for Jesus’ sake and the sake of spreading the gospel, they would bear the fruit of gospel spread, transformation and the making of other disciples
The key to this whole section (and the whole of Jesus’ ministry to the disciples prior to his death) is John 13:1
1 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.
marker of time, that the hour had come for his death on the cross
having loved his own who were in the world
God loved the world (John 3:16) in order to draw his own out of the world [cf Carson]. The object of God’s love is the world but the result of that love is to draw people who will living in the world would be marked as different (his own) from the rest of the world.
he loved them to the end: a Johannine double meaning, meaning both that he loved them to the uttermost or in the most extravagant manner possible and also he loved them to the end of his life. Both of these are true, his magnificent love for his people led him to die on the cross for them, and he maintained that love to the very end of his life on this earth
So the time has come for Jesus to do something out of his extravagant love that will lead to his death on the cross, and that attitude would be needed to be emulated by those he called his own.
And that is symbolized by the cleansing of the disciples feet
Outline
Outline
The character of Jesus, who cleanses his disciples feet
What the sign signifies about Jesus’ cleansing
The uniqueness of Jesus’ cleansing
The example of Jesus’ cleansing leading to Christian (his own) attitude and action
The Character Of Jesus
The Character Of Jesus
John 13:2-5
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
3 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,
4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
5 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.
More appropriately, the nature of Jesus love
John points out Judas’ impending betrayal not just as a marker of time to indicate that the hour had come and things were set in motion under Gods sovereignty that would lead to Jesus’ death on the cross
But also to indicate that Jesus’ knew that Judas was about to betray him; turn him in for 30 pieces of silver and what does Jesus do? Wash his feet
Mt 5:43-47
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
The perfection of Jesus love, exemplified in his washing of the betrayer’s feet, ultimately manifested in his death on the cross to pay for the sins of his own, who were all enemies of God
The form of Jesus’ service
Footwashing - the need probably due to travel on dusty roads and such, washing feet before sitting down barefoot for a meal
Peers did not wash each others feet. Usually the one lower in status washed the others feet
There is no instance in either Jewish or Greco-Roman sources of a superior washing the feet of an inferior: cf. Chris Thomas, op. cit., ch. 3.
Perhaps if Jesus asked disciples to wash his feet, they might have agreed. However, the reason they may not have offered
It was considered too lowly a task even for Jewish slaves, only Gentile slaves and perhaps in the home, not men, but only women and children
So for the disciples to not only do what might atleast seem proper, but to see Jesus their superior perform this service to them went against and destroyed the expected norms of society.
But more than that, here it says he took off his outer robe and tied a towel around his waist.
This was the dress of the lowest of slaves, looked down upon in both Jews and Gentiles
Lk 22:27
27 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.
I like to think that Paul heard this and wrote Phil 2:6-8
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
This love, this grace would ultimately manifest itself on the cross where Jesus died
It was a stunning, lavish and unnecessary act but all grace is that
All acts of divine grace are so
The cross as unnecessary? From God’s perspective
Every act of loving grace thus needs to imbibe some element of the stunning, the unexpected, the lavish and the unnecessary (love ur enemies)
FAO Schwartz piano
What The Sign Signifies
What The Sign Signifies
John 13:6-8
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
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.”
Peter’s tone is one of strained disbelief ( you to me)?
He is still thinking in terms of the social context and far be from it that Peter, the known passionate fellow, to willingly agree to this social injustice.
But Jesus points him to something that he will not understand in the present but only later
And that is, this footwashing which is Jesus’ lavish, stunning, unnecessary, gracious love exemplified in that moment points to a greater act of love that Peter will see later (and similarly not accept as in his denial etc) which is Jesus death on the cross
Jesus is saying, I am here to love you and serve you, now serve you as a slave by washing your feet but in days to come, you will see that I love you and will serve you by dying on the cross for you. And then you may begin to understand the depth of my lavish grace and love toward you
Now Peter, hotheaded, does not want to take Jesus at face value. No Never! he says
And Jesus says, if i do not wash you, you have no share with me
Or if I do not cleanse you, you have no part of me
Jesus is using the cleansing property of the footwash to point out that he would cleanse their sins by his death, burial and resurrection
and unless Jesus’ blood has washed away my sins, i can have no part or share of him, no link, no relationship with him
Of course, Peter would not understand all this now which leads to the next interaction
The Uniqueness of Jesus Cleansing
The Uniqueness of Jesus Cleansing
John 13:9-11
9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
10 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.”
11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Peter, still not understanding, but enthusiastically responding to Jesus’ no part of me comment says, in that case wash me everywhere, hands head etc . Drench me, clothed bath
Jesus takes the opportunity to respond to Peters’ question to make a related but separate point about his cleansing, his salvation through his death on the cross
It turns on two words, which is bath vs wash. So those who have taken a bath only needs to wash the parts that are dirty in this case the feet because they are completely clean
In the flow of conversation, the previous verses showed Jesus using the cleansing property of the water to point to his sacrificial death on the cross as the cleansing agent for sins
Here he is using the specificity of the application of the water, which is just to the feet, to make a separate point. Which is that those who taken a bath and have become clean do not take a bath again
So when did these disciples have this bath? One that bath is pointing to Jesus death on the cross which is a one time event, a fundamental cleansing that makes one clean that does not need to be repeated (prospective for the disciples since Jesus knew his own and who would betray him)
Another place with similar idea in John 15:3
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
So the cleansing comes through the Word of God revealed in Jesus Christ pointing to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus which cleanses us from all righteousness once and for all.
It is possible but not necessary to point out that the once and for all fundamental cleansing that makes us righteous, right with God, does not need to be repeated but perhaps we need to continually cleanse ourselves of our ongoing sins through the practice of relying on the grace of God through confession 1 Jn 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But also important to point out that Jesus says not every one of you is clean, referring to Judas
So no external rite (even one in this case administered by Jesus himself, let alone an agent of Jesus) can cleanse you. Because Judas was washed, but he was not clean.
The only real cleansing of our souls, the cleansing that makes us righteous and worthy to have a share in Jesus Christ, comes from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross which is the message of the Gospel. That whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life
The Example Of Jesus’ Cleansing
The Example Of Jesus’ Cleansing
John 13:12-17
12 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?
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16 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.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Here, the narrative turns from the symbolism of the footwashing in the life of Jesus and what it means for the disciples to the example that the disciples have to emulate
This is part of Jesus authority over them as Rabbi (teacher) and as Lord, that the example that he has taught and exemplified in his own acts should be emulated by his followers
Do you understand is a rhetorical question because Jesus is going to unpack in the following verses and chapters (all the way up to chapter 17) what it means to emulate his example of lavish, stunning, unnecessary, gracious love.
Note again that Jesus’ actions which flow from that attitude have a unique significance: we cannot repeat the death on the cross and even if we did, our deaths would not have the same cleansing effect
But the attitude can be taken and repeated.
So that attitude of self-giving, self-sacrificing love, showcased here by the footwashing, needed to be followed and emulated by the disciples.
If I, as your master, have washed your feet, so also you ought to wash each other’s (peers) feet because as your master I have laid the example that you should do because you are my servants. If you are my messengers, you cannot call anything menial or humiliating, once the message giver has done it.
Later on in John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The mark of a Christian community has to be the love we have for one another, that astounds the world
John 17:20-23
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
The mark of a Christian community, that we have an unity that astounds the world and points to the love and unity within the Triune Godhead and attests to the validity of the gospel
All of that flows, is only possible if every disciple of Christ has the same attitude that Christ has, which is to have a love that is lavish, stunning and filled with grace that the world calls unnecessary
Blessed are you if you do them- Jesus says its not enough to hear but you have to do now that you have heard
And he points to himself as the example and the pattern
In Ancient Greece, all the examples and patters were of courage and military accomplishment
It took Jesus Christ’s pattern and example to show that humility, self-sacrifice and love were virtues that were not just to be not looked down up but rather to be celebrated and exemplified
Christians love each other beyond just the constraints of family and blood relationship. For these things are necessary but to love beyond that which is normal, to even sacrifice and lay down one’s life for someone else who is not related to you, that is stunning
Christian hospitality beyond the needs of entertainment and network formation and social niceties to actively sacrificial giving of our time and resources to not benefit us or our children but for the exclusive benefit of someone else; that is radical
Christian mission, which goes out into places that the world has deemed backward and hostile in order to communicate the love of Christ to them, that is unnecessary
These were not concepts that were in vogue in that day but Jesus Christ gave us a pattern and an example to follow that overturns the expectations of this world
It took God to put on flesh in order for us to expand the possibilities of love and service and sacrifice even within the constraints of humanity.
4 minute mile - a brick wall (John Landy, future world record holder ) . Roger Bannister 1400 people (10 in high school)
Conclusion
Conclusion
Jesus loved us to the end, lavishly, stunningly
He cleansed us once and for all with his death on the cross, the stunning manifestation of his love for us. Nothing else can cleanse us from our unrighteousness or bring us into a relationship with him
And now those of us who belong to him, who have been cleansed by him, we are commanded to love one another, to serve one another in humility and self-sacrifice
so that the world will see us as united in love and know we are Christians by our love, so that they can be pointed back to the one who is the source and the example of that stunning, lavish and extravagant love, Jesus Christ, who loved us and in that love, died for us as our atoning, cleansing sacrifice.
May His name alone be glorified