Written by Paul Kunkel
john 13:1-17
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,[a] but is completely clean. And you[b] 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.” 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. 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[c] 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.
During the Last Supper, Jesus knew that his time was at hand. He knew he would be betrayed, he knew what was in front of him was seemingly unbearable. Despite what must have been a crushing sense of dread, he went forward, continued to lead, to teach and to show the way.
He continued to teach by word and example, and even overcame Peter’s resistance. In the face of the most awful fate imaginable, he washed feet.
The Son of God, with access to unimaginable power and authority, humbly washed the feet of his disciples and friends. It is hard to imagine what went through the minds of the disciples as this was going on.
When he was done, the Lord spoke to them, to make sure the lesson was not lost on them.
“…a servant is not greater than the master, nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.” (John 13:16). This is a strong statement, and must have been confusing, but Jesus was clearly establishing he is the Son of God.
Jesus combined an incredible act of humility while teaching them verbally about humility. It is easy to gain a sense of confidence and even moral superiority in our walk with God. It is easy to feel blessed and righteous and look around at others who we think are not like us.
When we find ourselves doing that at church, at work, walking downtown, at the coffee shop, we must remember that Jesus himself, the Son of God, who had every right and authority to act like this, washed feet.
Prayer Prompts:
Pray that God would help you to follow in his example and “wash the feet” of those around me and those I encounter.
Ask for God’s help to keep His words in our heart, and humbly serve others as Jesus showed us. May we learn what it looks like to serve others with genuine joy and humility.
