John 13:1-17 Message

Wash One Another’s Feet

John 13:1-17; 34-35 NIU UBF 3/8/09
Key verse 13:14
“Now, that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also should wash one another’s feet.”

Last week we attended the USA/Canada UBF staff conference. There, over 200 people, UBF pastors and their wives and other UBF leaders, studied God’s word and prayed. We studied two passages; Revelation 2 and John 13. Through these passages we were all encouraged to return to our first love, Jesus and to love one another. In today’s passage Jesus washes his disciples’ feet to show them his love. Then Jesus tells them to wash one another’s feet, following his example. These two passages were studied by UBF leaders on six continents. It is good for us to be on the same page as other UBF chapters world wide. It is good to be on the same page as Jesus himself. May God help us to understand God’s love and follow Jesus’ example washing each others’ feet…in a spiritual sense. (Maybe in a literal sense also)

First, Jesus Showed Them The Full Extent Of His Love (1).

The time of Jesus’ passion was approaching. Look at verse 1. “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” From chapter one, John the Baptist cried out about Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” His statement pointed to Jesus’ divine destiny at the cross. It was declared at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Now, 3 ½ years later, the time had finally come. It was just hours before Jesus would be arrested and tried and sent to Calvary. What did Jesus do? What would you do? Jesus could have made a desperate attempt at self preservation. But he decided to showed his disciples the full extent of his love.

Actually, Jesus had loved them deeply from the very beginning of his ministry. Jesus had called them from ordinary lives to be his servants. Jesus planted hope in them to be great men of God in his world salvation work. Jesus had also loved them by being with them, every day, for 3 ½ years. For people to live together with others is not easy. Ask anyone who has lived in Christian common life. It is hard enough for blood relatives to live together. Many who seem to be saints at church are much different at home where all of their quirks are exposed. But look at Jesus. Jesus is the holy God. Yet he lived with his disciples day in and day out, enduring their sins and weaknesses with gentle forbearance. Jesus loved them most by praying for them and teaching them the word of God faithfully. The word of God cleansed their hearts and their minds. The image of God, God’s own noble character, began to grow in them. Moreover, Jesus taught them a sense of responsibility as leaders, giving them discipleship training. Jesus taught them faith that overcomes storms. Jesus taught them resurrection faith. Their three years of divine discipline under Jesus was intense, but through it all, they were growing as leaders who would later change the world. It was a miracle, like Jesus changing ordinary wash water into delicious wine.

We could say that Jesus had already done enough for his disciples. Now it was time to think about himself, don’t you think? He could have been thinking about escaping his upcoming trials. He could have been consumed by thoughts of anger towards the religious leaders and towards Judas who was about to betray him. But amazingly Jesus was only thinking about showing his disciples the full extent of his love. The fact is, when we get stressed out with pressure from school or from financial pressures all we think about is how to solve our immediate problems and save ourselves. There is very little room in our hearts for others, or for revealing the love of God to a world that so desperately needs to know his love. How different we are from Jesus. May God help us to grow in his image.

What was Jesus’ motive in this selfless act? The disciples did not yet know the full measure of Jesus’ love. And they had not learned how to love one another. So Jesus wanted to show them the full extent of his love. Jesus’ love is God’s love. God’s love is different from human love. Human love is conditional. So many vow on their wedding day, “till death do us part.” A few years later most say, “I just don’t love you anymore” or “our lives are going in different directions” and they separate. It is hard to stay in love when we depend on human emotions. Thank God that Jesus doesn’t do this to us. God’s love is unconditional. God’s love does not depend on our condition. God loves us when we are doing well, and God loves us just the same when we are not doing well. God’s love is steady and unchanging because it comes from God, who is in very nature love. God’s love is also everlasting. Psalm 136 repeats 26 times, “His love endures forever.” God never gets tired in loving people. Many parents are too tired after work to love their children. Some walk away from their children and their spouse to start a new life. Some drop their children off at fire stations or hospitals. Many Bible teachers feel “burned out” from trying to love God’s flock. But our God never burns out. God’s love endures forever.

Jesus did not just talk about love. Jesus showed his disciples the full extent of his love. His love is very practical. Jesus performed a dramatic act that planted in their minds and hearts a vivid image of his love. Let’s think more deeply about what Jesus did.

Second, Almighty Jesus Humbly Serves His Disciples (2-5).

The devil tried to crash this sacred dinner party. Look at verse 2. “The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.” This was the Passover, and it was the last meal Jesus would eat with his disciples. They were in a private upper room all by themselves. The disciples were happy as the plates of hot flat bread and roasted lamb were served. They were happy to be with Jesus. It should have been a feast filled with love. However, there was an uninvited guest present…the devil. The devil had invaded this sacred gathering through Judas Iscariot. The devil and Judas had formed a relationship through long, silent conversations together, in Judas’ mind. When following Jesus became difficult, the devil persuaded Judas to find an easier way. (John 6:60-64) When following Jesus required suffering loss, the devil persuaded Judas to find a more profitable way. (John 12:6) As the devil’s thoughts danced in his mind, Judas began to rehearse how he might betray Jesus. Finally, he was captured by the devil, and ready to do his bidding. Judas’ problem was that he did not respect Jesus’ word absolutely. Judas did not accept Jesus’ love. He remained in his own self centered world even though God was moving him to repent. This event is not separated from each of us. We must know that the devil is real. The devil roams around to capture all those who are relativistic toward Jesus’ word. (1 Peter 5:8) We could be captured at any moment.

Jesus was well aware of the devil’s presence. But Jesus was not worried. Look at verse 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....” Jesus’ mind was occupied with thoughts of God. Jesus knew that Almighty God had entrusted his world salvation work completely into his hand. With this awesome power of God, Jesus was free to do what he wanted. It was not to call down a legion of angels and destroy his enemies. What did Jesus want to do with his almighty power?

Jesus used his almighty power to serve his disciples by washing their feet. Look at verses 4-5. “...so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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.” This job was usually given to lowest servant in the house. In order to serve his disciples, Jesus humbled himself to the lowest place. Here we learn Jesus’ serving character and divine humbleness. Paul describes Jesus in Philippians 2:6-8 as follows: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross!” We learn that the one thing Jesus really wanted his disciples to know is that he loves them. He loves them so much that he humbled himself from the highest place to the very lowest to serve them in the way that they needed….very practically. And apparently their immediate need was to have their feet washed. It could not wait.

God’s love to us is like this. Jesus is God Almighty. Yet he came to serve us in our need. Jesus humbly and continually serves me. He faithfully forgives me of my sins. He gives me faithful Bible study, even Bible study with mature servants of God. He constantly counsels me and guides my heart through his word and his Spirit. He helps my Bible students and my kids and my wife. He gives me strength to work as a nurse. He provides a place for me to work out and to a beautiful park to walk my dog and enjoy nature. He inspires me to prepare the word of God. He helps us to navigate the difficult economic times. He helps me to lead my housechurch. He battles the despair that creeps into my heart by infusing it with hope. Most of all he serves me daily so that I can know him and live in the confidence of his forgiveness and eternal life. We could never experience the love of God on our own. We could never ascend to him. But he came to us, humbling himself. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” We must simply accept Jesus’ love and humble service.

Third, The Spiritual Meaning Of Foot Washing (6-11).

As Jesus went around washing the feet of the disciples, he came to Simon Peter. Peter said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” When his Lord Jesus took the position of the lowest servant to wash his feet, Peter was utterly shocked. It turned Peter’s world view upside down. Peter had a strong idea of how human power hierarchy should be played out. In this hierarchy, the one on top orders his subordinates to do this and do that. The subordinates order their subordinates until the person on the bottom ends up doing the dirty work. It is like me giving the orders and the kids order each other until Mark has to do the dirty work, like feeding Ohma. Peter might have thought that some obscure disciple, like Bartholomew should have washed everybody’s feet.

Jesus knew it was hard for Peter to accept all this. So Jesus said, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Jesus wanted Peter to trust him and accept his washing. We can do this when we have a right attitude toward Jesus. We are not God. There are things that we do not understand. But we will understand if we simply trust and obey Jesus. But Peter did not have this attitude. He said, “No, you shall never wash my feet” (8a). Peter flatly and unconditionally refused. Peter might have thought he was humble. But, actually he was very proud. He thought his own idea was superior to Jesus’ teaching. He ended up trying to teach Jesus something. When Peter realized he had to choose between Jesus’ word and his own idea, he changed his mind and said, “Then Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” In a way, he accepted Jesus’ word, but not really. Now he was adding to Jesus’ word with an extreme statement that went far beyond what Jesus required. Jesus had to correct him once again. Jesus wanted Peter to simply accept his word without arguing or making extreme statements. In Matthew 5:37 Jesus said, “Simply let your ‘Yes' be ‘Yes,' and your ’No,' ‘No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Because Peter was proud, the devil was toying with him also.

We must take Jesus at his word. Jesus tries his absolute best to come to us a humble servant, but we must overcome our proud minds to accept him as he is and accept the things that he wants to show us. We cannot follow Jesus and our own idea at the same time. The only way to follow Jesus is to honor Jesus’ word a little more than our own thoughts. In other words our minds must be captured by Jesus’ word.

Jesus helped Peter in verse 8b, “…Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Relationships need to be maintained. Jesus was doing his part to maintain his relationship with Peter. Now it was Peter’s turn. Peter was free to refuse or accept Jesus’ humble service. But it would be the end of their relationship. Let us listen to Jesus’ word, accept his love and grace and humble serving, and maintain our love relationship with Jesus every day. To receive Jesus’ grace, we must simply accept what Jesus gives. We cannot add anything to it and we cannot omit anything from it. This is the right attitude toward Jesus as Lord.

Complete rewashing was not necessary. Look at verse 10. “Jesus answered, ‘A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’” It was not necessary for Peter to wash his hands and head, that is, to take a bath. Jesus just wanted to wash Peter’s feet, no more and no less. In John 15:3 Jesus said to his disciples, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” In the Bible Jesus compares taking a bath and having a clean body to receiving the word of God and having a clean mind and heart. When we accept one word of Jesus, it cleanses our minds and hearts from all our dirty sins. The word justifies us as being right with God and God gives us eternal life. We have assurance that we belong to Jesus and no one can snatch us out of his hand. However we are still in the world. We see and hear things that contaminate our minds. We fall into our sins, mistakes and shortcomings, daily. This does not mean that we loose our salvation. It only means that we need Jesus’ cleansing everyday. Jesus taught us to come to him, confessing our sins, repenting and accepting his forgiveness daily. Then Jesus washes us clean once again, newly. Daily bread is a good time to do this.

However, there was one among the disciples who was not clean. He was Judas Iscariot. He was not clean because he had not accepted Jesus’ word. Jesus knew the evil that was in his heart, but Jesus still washed his feet. Jesus still offered to serve him and to cleanse him. In spite of Judas’ devilish intention, Jesus never stopped loving him. Jesus’ love for Judas never failed.

Fourth, Wash One Another’s Feet (12-17).

When Jesus finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. He explained the meaning of his action so they could understand. Look at verses 14-15. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Jesus taught them that spiritual leadership is not like having worldly authority. Spiritual leaders must be like Jesus. Spiritual leaders must be humble and they must serve. They must be willing to do the most menial and even dirty jobs to establish the bond of love with their coworkers. They must be willing to do the things that no one else wants to do without complaining. They must be willing to serve without receiving any kind of human honor or position. When spiritual leaders have this kind of attitude they can form a vessel of love that God can use for world mission. Jesus would soon be taken from them. It would be up to the disciples to carry out the world mission purpose of Jesus. When they remembered Jesus’ example and followed him they could overcome the schemes of the devil and obey God’s will, bearing the fruit of love.

Practically, what does it mean to us to wash one another’s feet? First of all it requires us to take a servant’s role. This is so hard for us to do. The Bible teaches us to truly consider others better than ourselves. (Php 2:3) We are called to concern about the interests of others. (Php 2:3) We are called to take on the very nature of a servant (Php 2:7) Listen to what Jesus tells in Mark 10:43-45, “43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." The sinful tendencies of all people are that we want to exalt ourselves over others and seek to be served by others. But when we remember how Jesus humbled himself to serve us, we can begin to learn the attitude of a servant.

There is another aspect of washing others feet. The disciples’ feet were probably very smelly. It was the hot in the Middle East. There was dry animal dung dust in the street dust. Their feet were sweaty. While reclining at the dinner table, others feet came closer to their noses. The upper room probably had poor circulation. It was hard to bear. To wash such feet meant that Jesus had to bear the smells, the germs, and even the abrasions and other anomalies and touch these feet and wash them, even in between their toes. How gross? These unpleasantries associated with feet are akin to our own personal shortcomings and sins. Listen to what Paul says in Colossians 3:13, “13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” We are easily upset by others around us. We poke at others in a subconscious attempt to make them conform to our standard. It is easier for us to isolate ourselves where no one else bothers us. But Jesus wants us to overcome, bearing each others’ “smelly feet” and washing them very practically, helping other. Then a vessel of love can be formed among God’s people. This requires true humility, the attitude of Christ. Yet, this is exactly what our Lord Jesus did for each of us. Jesus told us to follow his example in fact he commands us to do so in John 13:34-35. Let’s read these verses together, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Why should we do this? First, Jesus commanded it. Second, we will be blessed if we do it. “Blessed” has the connotation of happy. Third, the people of the world will know that we are disciples of Jesus and they will come to us to hear to the Gospel. It is imperative.

In today’s passage we learned that Jesus loves us. So he humbled himself to the lowest place to serve us. Ultimately, he bore our sins in his body on the cross. He wants us to love and serve and bear with others, following his example. May God help us to do so.