John 13:2-11, Jesus Washes Feet

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.” 

Proper Eastern etiquette required guests have their feet washed when coming off the dirty street by a slave. Jewish slaves by tradition were not required to perform such a task. As they ate with unwashed feet, Jesus rises, partially undresses, and begins to act the role of a non-Jewish slave and wash the feet of his disciples. He puts himself in the role of servant to his closest friends, including Judas. Peter, ever quick to respond, tells Jesus to stop. Making this a teaching moment, Jesus replies only the washed belong to him; we now know that He is speaking of the washing that occurs through dying with Christ (something we celebrate in our baptisms)! His death is revealed to proceed from love, to be directed by God, and to cause us to reconsider sin. 

First, his death proceeds from love (v. 1): “He loved them to the end.” At the end of all the steps he takes with his disciples is the cross. He loves them until he reaches that very point and there demonstrates the depth and fullness of his love. “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). 

Second, his death demonstrates that God directs it. Jesus proceeded when he knew the hour had come, the time appointed by God and for which Jesus had waited. God had given Jesus all things, and now he chose to go back to God. Jesus is in control. Even though motivated by Satan, Judas, Caiaphas, Herod, Pilot, and the crowd act within the purposes of God. God uses evil for his holy purposes, revealing the triumph of his mercy, grace, justice, and mighty love in the crucifixion. 

Fourth, his death causes us to reconsider sin. We know we are cleansed from sin by Christ’s blood. Yet each of us knows we continue to sin. Jesus teaches, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.” In other words, the blood of Jesus washes away every sin. None is left out. But we do have to come back to him and repent and have our feet washed, so to speak, because we get dirty in the sin of our everyday lives. 

The cross is near for Jesus. He steps toward it in love, in the face of evil, in God’s power and will, and in the cause of the forgiveness of our sins. 

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Thank Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, taking time to confess to him any that remain unconfessed that your heart may be one with Jesus.