Washing Feet
TRANSLATION
(1) It was just before the Feast of Passover. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them to the end. (2) During supper, after the devil had prompted Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, (3) Jesus, knowing that the Father had put all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God, (4) got up from the meal, took off his outer garment, and tied a towel around his waist. (5) He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, wiping them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (6) He came to Simon Peter who said to him, “Lord, are you really going to wash my feet?” (7) Jesus said to him, “You do not realize what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” (8) Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus responded, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” (9) Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head.” (10) Jesus said to him, “Those who have bathed don’t need to wash apart from their feet but are completely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you.” (11) For he knew the one who was going to betray him. That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
(12) When he had washed their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. He asked them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? (13) You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. (15) I have set for you an example that you should likewise do what I have done for you. (16) Truly I tell you no servant is greater than his master. Neither is the one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. (17) If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
OBSERVATIONS
Numerous repetitions help us understand the message of this opening segment of Jesus’ great Upper Room Discourse found in John 13-17. Designations for God as “Father” (vss. 1 & 3) and Jesus as “teacher and Lord” (vss. 13 & 14) were emphasized as was the reason for this discourse, “loved” found twice (vs. 2). Words describing Jesus’ action, “towel” (twice in vss. 4 & 5), “wash(ed)” (eight times in vss. 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, & 14), “feet” (also eight times in vss. 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, & 14), and “clean” (twice in vs. 10) were also repeated. “Understand” occurred three times (in vss. 7 & 13).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus washed the disciples’ feet despite their reluctance. (1-11)
II. Jesus explained the significance of what he had done for them. (12-17)
IDEA STATEMENT
By washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus both cleansed them in preparation for serving him and set for them an example of how they were to serve one another.
APPLICATION
The answer to Jesus’ question, “Do you understand what I have done to you,” serves as the key for our understanding the thrust of this segment. As we grasp the significance of this moment in the disciples’ lives, we sense how Jesus’ actions and words likewise hold true for each of us. None of us likes to admit that our feet are soiled beyond our personal ability to clean them. Like Peter we may try to resist Jesus’ demand to deal with our sin-filled lives. However, once we submit to his washing our feet, we will be cleansed and prepared to serve him.
We must also grasp how his cleansing our feet puts us under obligation to our neighbors who also have dirty feet. As Jesus told the disciples, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought (have the responsibility) to wash one another’s feet” (vs. 14). This theme permeated Jesus’ ministry. He articulated it in the model prayer that he gave his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount: “Forgive us our debts as (in the same way that) we forgive our debtors.” He called for it when Peter asked how often we ought to forgive a sinning brother. It is unthinkable that we who follow Jesus would ever hold a grudge or seek retribution for ourselves. His washing our sin-soiled feet requires us to stoop to wash others’ dirty feet.