Read: John 13:1-17
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.
Living in a day when most of the streets and roads were dirt and people wore sandals or walked barefoot, the foot was the dirtiest part of the body. After a long journey, it was common for the servants in a wealthy home to come and wash guests’ feet. A student would be willing to wash his master’s feet, but peers never washed one another’s feet. It was too demeaning. When Jesus moves to wash his disciples’ feet, they are not only ashamed for not washing his, they are completely flabbergasted that he would stoop to wash theirs. This was unheard of.
Jesus reverses the expectations and the normal roles. This act of humility is a stunning display of love, but it also serves to symbolize the cleansing only Jesus can provide (verses 6-9) and it is an example of how Christians should live (verses 12-17).
John emphasizes that Judas Iscariot was present when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. Why is that significant? Why does he wash them?
What does Jesus tell Peter after Peter refuses foot washing? Why wouldn’t Peter have a share with him if Jesus did not wash his feet? What does this suggest for the cross and the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood?
Jesus says, in verses13-15, that what he has done has set an example for them to follow. What is the example? How can we follow that today?
One author suggests that human pride often presents itself by refusal to take a low role with others. Have you ever found that true of yourself? How does knowing that Jesus humbled himself to the level of a servant challenge that attitude?
Think about the people you know – at work/school, in your neighborhood, at home – how could you humbly love them through service? How could you tangibly show the love of Christ to them in a way that might dent your pride but would speak volumes of the love of Jesus that led him to the cross?