Review. When Jesus came into the world, we know exactly what He said, and what He was thinking. Even though “all things were created through Him and for Him, and He “existed in the form of God,” He “did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant.” (Col. 1:16; Phil. 2:5-7). His words were built on His thinking: “a body You have prepared for Me,” and “I have come” “To do Your will, O God.” (Ps. 40:6-8; Heb. 10:5-10).
We also know why God revealed this to us: “A servant is not greater than his Lord.” What Jesus knew before He came, we must learn after we obey the gospel: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1Cor. 6:19-20). As Jesus, we too are now here to do God’s will, and to sacrifice ourselves for others.
Introduction. Just as God wanted us to know Jesus’ thoughts and words as He was entering this world, He also wanted us to know exactly what was on Jesus’ mind as He prepared to leave it. On His final night on earth, “Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father.” (Jn. 13:1). He was very aware that the hour had come to do what He had come into the world to do. As that night commenced, He was also still very aware of the greatness He had refused to grasp when He came: “knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God.” (Jn. 13:3). He was still “the Word” who “became flesh” and the time to put off that flesh and return to God had arrived. He knew He would soon be “exalted to the right hand of God,” with “all authority” “given to Me in heaven and on earth,” (Acts 2:33-25; Mt. 28:18).
With all this on His mind and His betrayal and crucifixion only hours away, what comes next is very important for all Christians. He “rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (13:4-5
We also know why God revealed this to us: “A servant is not greater than his Lord.” What Jesus knew before He came, we must learn after we obey the gospel: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1Cor. 6:19-20). As Jesus, we too are now here to do God’s will, and to sacrifice ourselves for others.
Introduction. Just as God wanted us to know Jesus’ thoughts and words as He was entering this world, He also wanted us to know exactly what was on Jesus’ mind as He prepared to leave it. On His final night on earth, “Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father.” (Jn. 13:1). He was very aware that the hour had come to do what He had come into the world to do. As that night commenced, He was also still very aware of the greatness He had refused to grasp when He came: “knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God.” (Jn. 13:3). He was still “the Word” who “became flesh” and the time to put off that flesh and return to God had arrived. He knew He would soon be “exalted to the right hand of God,” with “all authority” “given to Me in heaven and on earth,” (Acts 2:33-25; Mt. 28:18).
With all this on His mind and His betrayal and crucifixion only hours away, what comes next is very important for all Christians. He “rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (13:4-5
Jesus began washing the disciples feet with the “provided” towel and basin. To really understand this we need to remember what happened earlier that day. Jesus had “sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.’” So it was Peter and John who had been responsible for reserving this upper room. Jesus had also told them “a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” (Lk. 22:8; Mk. 14:13-18). So they were now sitting in a “large upper room” prepared by someone else. It was likely this “master of the house” who had provided the towel, basin and water for them to wash their feet. But He did not provide a servant to do it. So now, “in the evening,” when “He came with the twelve,” the basin, water and towels were sitting off to the side, unused.
The disciples had all entered the room, and sat down. No one had offered to do this menial task for the others. When Jesus took the towel and poured the water into the basin, He made it clear that He was volunteering to do the job reserved for the servant who was not there. John had just made it clear that He was far greater than they imagined which is the reason for His answer: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” They did not yet know how exalted Jesus was. They did not understand He was the Word who was with God and was God and that He was the creator of all things. But they would come to know after what a great sacrifice this was.
What Peter did know, in a limited way, was that Jesus was Lord and Christ and that he himself was a sinful man. His response was visceral and intense: “You shall never wash my feet!” Whatever lesson Jesus wanted him to learn, Peter was rejecting and refusing it. If he allowed Jesus to wash his feet, in his own mind, Peter would be showing great disrespect. Again, in his mind, Jesus was too great and Peter was too insignificant for him to allow Jesus to do this menial task. That Peter did not offer to do the task himself is another clear indication of Peter’s understanding of the nature of the task. It has been or will be only a few moments before “there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest,” and He would say to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” (Lk. 22:24).
They were still locked into the mind set that their own greatness precluded them from having to serve others. It was why they wouldn’t offer to do it and why Peter would not allow Jesus do to it. But Jesus is out of time. It is His last night with them and this lesson must be learned: “Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’” Peter did not know it, but His words were a direct repudiation of Jesus.
Jesus had rejected Peter’s philosophy from the moment He had entered the world. Peter was still grasping at his own greatness, while Jesus had refused to grasp His “equality with God!” Peter was rejecting the very essence of Jesus’ being, and could have no part with Him unless he repented and changed His mind.
Peter was still locked into the attitude Paul later condemned. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-5). This is exactly what Jesus was doing and trying to teach Peter. So Peter had to make a choice: either let go of his selfish attitude and his empty conceit, or let go of Jesus. They were all still looking out for their own personal interests, while Jesus was looking out for their interests. Peter wisely changed his mind.
The washing the feet of the twelve apostles (including Judas) is an action parable. A parable not of words, but of action. This is made clear when He asked them: “Do you know what I have done to you?” He was not asking what He did from a material perspective, but from a spiritual one. It is directly tied to Peter’s objection: “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.” Peter was not wrong in his conclusion that Jesus was greater than he was. He was wrong that because Jesus was greater, it was wrong for Him to serve. It is precisely because He is the Lord and Teacher (Rabbi) that this parable hinges. The Lord and Teacher saw the needs of the apostles (His servants) as an opportunity for Him to serve them. He did not see their need and look for someone lower to do it. He saw their need and immediately grasped the opportunity to do it!
This was the lesson He had tried to teach them many times, but they had not yet understood. The Lord saw the needs of those weaker than Himself as an opportunity to help them. He saw His strengths in the context of using them to help others. If the Lord saw the needs of others as an opportunity, then so should we! We should have the same attitude and mind that Jesus revealed here: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” The action parable is now explained.
He was being an example. “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” He made it clear that we are to do “as” He did and not “what” He did. Jesus was not instituting an ordinance of foot washing! He was revealing His mind regarding service, so we could do as He did, whenever we find ourselves in similar circumstances. He washed their feet as an example so that we will learn that we are to do every kind of menial service we can for even the least in the kingdom. If we can learn this, the path to true greatness will open to us. If we can’t, then our service to the Lord will be meaningless.
Conclusion. Jesus’ final words offer two applications to be made from the parable. First we must learn and then we must do. “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Through Jesus’ example here, everyone has the opportunity to learn and understand the mind of Christ: to realize that leaving heaven to die for man and to wash people’s feet was not beneath His dignity and did not lower Him. God “highly exalted Him” for doing these things. While learning is a very difficult first step, the blessedness only comes from doing.
The disciples had all entered the room, and sat down. No one had offered to do this menial task for the others. When Jesus took the towel and poured the water into the basin, He made it clear that He was volunteering to do the job reserved for the servant who was not there. John had just made it clear that He was far greater than they imagined which is the reason for His answer: “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” They did not yet know how exalted Jesus was. They did not understand He was the Word who was with God and was God and that He was the creator of all things. But they would come to know after what a great sacrifice this was.
What Peter did know, in a limited way, was that Jesus was Lord and Christ and that he himself was a sinful man. His response was visceral and intense: “You shall never wash my feet!” Whatever lesson Jesus wanted him to learn, Peter was rejecting and refusing it. If he allowed Jesus to wash his feet, in his own mind, Peter would be showing great disrespect. Again, in his mind, Jesus was too great and Peter was too insignificant for him to allow Jesus to do this menial task. That Peter did not offer to do the task himself is another clear indication of Peter’s understanding of the nature of the task. It has been or will be only a few moments before “there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest,” and He would say to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” (Lk. 22:24).
They were still locked into the mind set that their own greatness precluded them from having to serve others. It was why they wouldn’t offer to do it and why Peter would not allow Jesus do to it. But Jesus is out of time. It is His last night with them and this lesson must be learned: “Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’” Peter did not know it, but His words were a direct repudiation of Jesus.
Jesus had rejected Peter’s philosophy from the moment He had entered the world. Peter was still grasping at his own greatness, while Jesus had refused to grasp His “equality with God!” Peter was rejecting the very essence of Jesus’ being, and could have no part with Him unless he repented and changed His mind.
Peter was still locked into the attitude Paul later condemned. “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-5). This is exactly what Jesus was doing and trying to teach Peter. So Peter had to make a choice: either let go of his selfish attitude and his empty conceit, or let go of Jesus. They were all still looking out for their own personal interests, while Jesus was looking out for their interests. Peter wisely changed his mind.
The washing the feet of the twelve apostles (including Judas) is an action parable. A parable not of words, but of action. This is made clear when He asked them: “Do you know what I have done to you?” He was not asking what He did from a material perspective, but from a spiritual one. It is directly tied to Peter’s objection: “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.” Peter was not wrong in his conclusion that Jesus was greater than he was. He was wrong that because Jesus was greater, it was wrong for Him to serve. It is precisely because He is the Lord and Teacher (Rabbi) that this parable hinges. The Lord and Teacher saw the needs of the apostles (His servants) as an opportunity for Him to serve them. He did not see their need and look for someone lower to do it. He saw their need and immediately grasped the opportunity to do it!
This was the lesson He had tried to teach them many times, but they had not yet understood. The Lord saw the needs of those weaker than Himself as an opportunity to help them. He saw His strengths in the context of using them to help others. If the Lord saw the needs of others as an opportunity, then so should we! We should have the same attitude and mind that Jesus revealed here: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” The action parable is now explained.
He was being an example. “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” He made it clear that we are to do “as” He did and not “what” He did. Jesus was not instituting an ordinance of foot washing! He was revealing His mind regarding service, so we could do as He did, whenever we find ourselves in similar circumstances. He washed their feet as an example so that we will learn that we are to do every kind of menial service we can for even the least in the kingdom. If we can learn this, the path to true greatness will open to us. If we can’t, then our service to the Lord will be meaningless.
Conclusion. Jesus’ final words offer two applications to be made from the parable. First we must learn and then we must do. “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Through Jesus’ example here, everyone has the opportunity to learn and understand the mind of Christ: to realize that leaving heaven to die for man and to wash people’s feet was not beneath His dignity and did not lower Him. God “highly exalted Him” for doing these things. While learning is a very difficult first step, the blessedness only comes from doing.