This is our second part of a series on growing as a disciple in the marketplace. If you have not yet read it, here’s part 1, Abide in the Word.
Part 2 – Be my disciple If you love one another
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.” (John 13:6-8)
In part one we saw in humility Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.
In verse 6 we see the reaction of Peter – “you will never wash my feet”. Why do we have such a forceful protest? Peter had bought into the idea that the coming Messiah would be a king to overcome and throw out the Romans from Israel, certainly not the servant leader he was seeing but a king with the government upon his shoulders as declared by Isaiah. The Jews were looking for a political Messiah.
Jesus is not fitting with his plans by performing the task of a slave, but Jesus is trying to move them from thinking in the physical to the spiritual. Peter thinks he can influence God; he rebukes Jesus about his death, showing arrogance towards God. Jesus’ reply is: this is not the way, the greatest among you will become a servant to others. (Mark 10:42).
Jesus says that they will understand, and He is talking about the coming Holy Spirit when they will see things in the spiritual and not just the physical. By washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus is showing them a spiritual lesson that requires understanding at this level and not the physical which is where Peter is with his comment that “you will not wash my feet”.
Peter has to accept and have his feet washed by Jesus. He had to become part of this, and we too have to accept the humble service of Jesus. He spiritually has to be cleansed by Jesus. This is the only way to deep relationship with Him.
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 is thinking in the physical: all of me needs cleaning, not just my feet. John’s gospel is full of such examples. 1 Cor 2:14 tells us that the things of God are foolishness to man unless we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to give us understanding. Again, we see here that Peter is trying to tell Jesus what to do. Sometimes we need to show humility in accepting service from others.
What is the lesson that Jesus is trying to explain to the disciples?
In the Greek world you would go to a bath house to bathe in a robe and then go home. On the way home your feet would become dirty by walking in the streets so that when you arrived home only your feet would need cleaning. Peter is still thinking in the physical culture of the day.
For us we are not of this world but in the world, so we need to be washed from the dirty part of the world daily. It is our feet that are connected. The spiritual aspect of this is all about restoring fellowship with Father.
The Jews could also relate to the message; the priest had a partial bathing before every sacrifice but had a main washing when they became a priest, because he sinned every day they had the partial bathing to restore their fellowship with God.
From Jesus’ point of view, for the disciples they only needed their feet washed, from a spiritual viewpoint they were already clean except for Judas. The feet washing was a fellowship restoration.
The world will ask “how many work for you?”
Jesus asks “how many do you work for?”
Titus 3:5 says we are saved by the washing of regeneration. There is the initial cleaning then continual washings to deal with the love of the flesh, lust of the eyes, anything that would draw us back to old patterns of thought.
V10-11 Judas needs to have the initial bathing, he is not clean just washing the feet is not enough for him.
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.
Jesus now changes His cloths and his position at the table A sign that he is is about to teach them, asking do you understand what I have done. He now wants to bring an explanation. They call him teacher, Rabbi a position of authority over them. He’s telling them, you need to copy this pattern that I have shown you.
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.
Jesus has given the example to His disciples as someone in authority over them. He has lowered himself to serve them in a role that is for their welfare. To meet the needs of others before ourselves. The world will ask how many work for you; Jesus asks how many do you work for.
Jesus expects us to have sacrificial giving to others; we have been given the gifts of the Holy Spirit to bless others. Our life of service is to give us the greatest joy.
The world is not the same now; in the 1st century the feet were dirty all the time. For us today carrying out a menial service for others would be collecting the rubbish or cleaning the toilets.
V16 we see the announcement from Jesus, truly truly. He’s telling the disciples to pay attention because this is important. Jesus gives a statement about role: The master is superior to the slave and the one who is sent inferior to the one who sends. For the disciples do not think it beneath you to serve someone else; follow the patten I have given you.
V17 Gives us a pathway to blessing, the first step is to know these things, we cannot do or live what we do not know. The message of the Bible is know something before you do it. Acts 2:24 says to be devoted to doctrine. Today there is an attempt to ignore doctrine, but if we do we will not get the blessing. If we know it then apply it to our marriage, jobs church and friends including relationship with the outside world.
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Jesus has explained how he cleanses us, the spiritual truth of servanthood. Part of the foot washing is treating other people the way God treats us. Expressing the grace of God in our relationships. The hidden upcoming betrayal by Judas is about forgiveness, not bearing grudges against someone. Jesus treats Judas with grace and mercy knowing what he will do once he leaves. He treats him as the honoured guest by offering the bread to him first.
Forgiveness of someone is for our benefit: what is going on in my heart does not affect anyone but myself. We are not to fret about people, just acknowledge that God’s ways are better.
Judas is about to leave and fulfill scripture. Ps 41:9, written 1,000 years before hand, speaks of this: “he who ate my bread”. Judas makes the choice to betray Jesus; he is tired of waiting for the kingdom he thinks the Messiah will bring, nothing is happening as he thought it would.
Jesus gives a short-term prophecy concerning Judas but does so with the purpose that those who are with him might believe he is the son of God. V19 that you may believe I am.
Again, Jesus announces v20 truly truly I am sending out my disciples. These are his special ambassadors; believe in their message and you believe in me.
The message of the gospel of John is emphasized again: John recorded all the signs of Jesus that you may believe.