It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him (John 13:1-5).
Within hours of this event Jesus was hanging on a cross and in less than twenty-four hours he was dead and buried. So these are some of the last words that Jesus spoke to his disciples. He loved those guys in a special way, but now, as the text says, he was ready to show them the full extent of his love.
One translation says, “he loved them to the uttermost” or “he loved them to the end.” In the midst of the chaos and change they were about to face, Jesus wanted to make sure that his friends didn’t doubt his love.
On this occasion, Jesus is eating the Passover meal with his disciples, which was an annual event to commemorate the time when God delivered the Israelites out of slavery. The Israelites spent about 430 years in Egypt and for much of that time they were oppressed and mistreated by the Egyptian people. In response to their prayers, the Lord raised up Moses as their leader and ten powerful plagues were unleashed upon the Egyptian people.
Just before the tenth plague was about to occur, God spoke to his people, to sprinkle the blood of a lamb or a young goat on the doorposts of every Israelite home. The blood of the animal was to be a sign of God’s protection. In fact, God said to them, “when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you.” Hence the name “Passover.”
Centuries later, John the Baptist saw Jesus and he said: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus didn’t come as a conquering King the first time around,
he came as a suffering servant and when he died on the cross, he was the Passover lamb that God provided to take away the sins of the world.
Likewise today, when we embrace Jesus as Lord and trust in his shed blood, we cross over from death to life (John 5:24). We’re spared from God’s punishment, and set free to live a purposeful, God-honoring life.
John 13 records the footwashing and in the following chapters Jesus is speaking to his disciples his final thoughts before the crucifixion. In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus not only gave his life for his friends, but he gave himself for his enemies as well. And by that sacrifice on the cross, Jesus demonstrated the full extent of his love. It was during this supper that Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist and began to wash his disciples’ feet.
The roads were bad during this time period, so you couldn’t help but get your feet dirty as you went from one place to another. At that time, it was customary for the lowest slave to wash the feet of anyone entering the house. But on this occasion, there were no servants around, and nobody else was volunteering for the job, so Jesus took the towel and modeled the principle of servanthood.
Notice the self-identity of Jesus:
He knew his authority. Verse 3 says, the Father had put all things “under his power.”
He knew his identity. The text says, he had “come from God.”
He knew his destiny. He knew that one day, he was “returning” to the Father to see him once again.
Jesus was secure enough to serve in the lowest position. People today, with great authority, great self-esteem, and an optimistic future certainly don’t want to mess up their public image by fraternizing with common people and taking the role of a servant. Jesus, however, didn’t see it that way. The greater you are, the bigger your heart is to serve. Jesus had the power and the position and the prestige, but he didn’t use it for himself. He used it to help others.
Likewise, when we’re comfortable with who we are and confident in our own identity, we won’t base our self-esteem on the standards and styles of society. Instead, we’ll base it on something that’s more solid than that, which is our relationship with the Lord.
The late Mother Teresa devoted her entire life to serving God and others. And during her lifetime she described herself as incredibly happy. She also said: “I am just a little pencil in God’s hands…. Doing something beautiful for God.” In contrast to that, Madonna, the “material girl,” has advocated a hedonistic, self-serving approach to life. She once said, “I don’t even know anybody who is happy!”
If you’re a Christ follower, no matter what you’re going through, remember who you are.
You belong to God. You’re his child and you’re cherished by him. Through Christ, your sins are forgiven, and you get to experience his presence and his love.
According to verse 2, the devil had entered into the heart of Judas and he was already plotting to betray Jesus. Our Lord was so secure in his authority, his identity and his ultimate destiny that he even washed Judas’ feet! He also washed Peter’s feet, fully knowing that in a short while, Peter would deny that he even knew Jesus, not once, but three times. Jesus loved these guys to the end, in spite of their weaknesses, and on this occasion, he proved his love by washing their feet.
According to Jesus, greatness is not a measure of self-sufficiency, but of self-sacrifice. If you really want to serve the Lord, the way you do that is by serving others. The two are inseparable.
We all know that great teachers serve their students and great salespeople serve their customers. A great manager or leader doesn’t just order the employees around, but serves them by helping to create a positive work environment
Yesterday we looked at Luke 22:24, where the disciples of Jesus began to argue among themselves about who was the greatest. As each of them made their case, Jesus took a towel and some water, and began to wash their feet. The message was loud and clear: “Let me show you guys what greatness is all about. It involves serving. I am among you as one who serves.”
Someone once said: “The mature Christian takes off the bib and puts on the apron.” Can you imagine a 40 year old man who still wears a bib because he still expects others to serve him? Contrast that with someone who wears an apron because he or she has learned the joy of serving others. A mature Christian is interested in service and an immature Christian is interested in serve-us.
Notice the response of Peter when Jesus came up to him: “He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet? 7 Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ 8 ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ 9 ‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’ 10 Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’” (John 13:6-10).
It was the custom in that day for people to take a bath before they went out for a meal. But in walking through the dusty streets of the city with sandals on, their feet would get dirty. When we first come to Christ and give our lives to him, it’s like taking a spiritual bath. Our sins are forgiven, and a new life begins. But Jesus knows that as we walk through this life and our feet touch this earth, they’re bound to get soiled and stained during the journey.
That is why we need to confess our sins each day, to receive God’s ongoing forgiveness.
First John 1:9 says it this way: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
The apostle John is talking about our daily journey with God, our daily walk. The fact is, after we become a Christian, we don’t need to be born again over and over again. But what we DO need is a daily cleansing from the sin that attaches itself to our lives, and without that, we lose our sense of companionship with Jesus, and we lose the joy of living the Christian life.
Notice how this whole thing wraps up in verses 11-15: “For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. 13 ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’”
Jesus begins again, by mentioning his authority and his identity. “You call me Teacher and Lord; and you’re right. I am your teacher, to show you the right way to live, and I am your Lord, who has the right to rule over you.
His argument is this: if I then, with this acknowledged position of authority in your lives, have washed your feet, then you also are to wash one another’s feet. Some Christians have taken this very literally and they find it meaningful to have footwashing services. Let’s not limit it to that.
Are you looking for ways to serve your family, friends, co-workers, and fellow members of God’s family? Do you help your spouse with the dishes? Teens, do you volunteer to help pick up the house, or do you always have to be asked to do it, by an exasperated parent? Students, do you look for kids at school to serve as an expression of your love for Jesus Christ? Let’s follow in Jesus’ footsteps and look for culturally relevant ways to express a servant’s heart.
Prayer
Father, we admit that self-sacrifice and serving is not always easy for us. Please renew our minds with the truth of what you say about us in your word. By your grace, help us to take the posture of a servant and find ways to add value to others, all for your glory!
Question
What is one act of service you can do this week to bless someone else