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John 13:1-11 (ESV)
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.”.
I used to lead high school groups to Mexico to build modest 12’ x 24’ houses for homeless families. During the day we carried out the work, but the evenings were spent in praise to the Lord and a message that was often the subject of the very week that these chapters cover in John’s Gospel.
I will never forget the times when the leaders washed the students’ feet. It was a very unexpected moment for the students and often very humbling and intimate for both the leader and student as we all were able to catch a real sense of what was happening in this passage.
N.T. Wright, in his commentary on this passage, rightly points out that in Jesus washing the feet of His disciples (and also in the crucifixion), we see clearly who God is.
The first three verses of this passage are very full.
We’re told that this is just before the Feast of Passover. In John’s Gospel, over and over again, the Passover has been a pivotal point in Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist proclaims Jesus as the Passover lamb that takes away the sin of the world (1.29, 36). It was during the Passover that Jesus spoke of the temple being destroyed and rebuilt (2.19-21; speaking of His own body). In chapter six, Jesus fed the crowds during Passover time and spoke to the crowds regarding feeding on His own body and blood.
In this passage, the setting is just before Passover.
We’re also told that the hour has come. Remember that “the hour” is featured throughout John’s Gospel and now that hour is finally here. However, it’s more than just Jesus dying and then going back to Heaven. Jesus will first be raised! He will meet with His disciples on several occasions and then He will return to the Father. Jesus is the first to be raised to new life and He is the one who is leading and fulfilling God’s promises for us all.
I also don’t want you to gloss over what we find at the end of verse one. We’re told that Jesus shows this love through to the end. A better translation of the Greek at the end of verse one would be either “to the very finish” or “perfectly”. In his commentary on John’s Gospel, Dale Bruner believes that both translations need to be in view in order to completely capture the full force of the meaning.
Literally, Jesus is bringing God’s love to a perfect conclusion, and here God’s love is on full display in the washing of the disciples’ feet, but also as the crucifixion is just on the horizon.
The best part of it all is that this perfect finish happens for the whole world.
There are a couple of other interesting notes in the passage as well. Judas has already listened to the whisperings of the satan and has determined his course of action and Peter, as usual, is confused and not completely understanding what is happening.
In many ways, I think we’re a lot like Peter. Peter flows from one extreme to the other in his attempt to get a handle on what Jesus is doing. However, Jesus’ point is clear. If we’re to belong to Jesus, He must wash us.
If you’ve entrusted your life to Jesus, you belong to Him, you’re washed and cleaned. But, if you’re anything like me, as much as you love and trust Jesus, there are times, perhaps daily, when we need a little cleaning up.
Let Jesus wash your feet. This is how great His love is for you.
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers.
Scott
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