John 13:1-11 (ESV)
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, 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.”
Considering our upcoming time of worship on Maundy Thursday, I would like to encourage you to read and think about this passage. I believe we sometimes read about this act of Jesus and really don’t think about the message He is trying to convey to his disciples.
John is the only Gospel writer to mention this scene. Why? In order to explain the cross, the imminent death of Jesus that will follow this scene (13:1-3). Though his disciples don’t understand why he is washing their feet, Jesus assures them that afterwards, i.e. after His death, they will understand (13:7; St. Helen’s 147). As well, Jesus washing the disciples’ feet is an act of love, but His ultimate act of love and sacrifice is found in the cross. Only slaves would wash the feet of guest and yet Jesus humbled himself to wash their feet, even the feet of Judas the betrayer. In performing this act of “cleansing,” Jesus was showing that unless I cleanse you, i.e. wash away your sins, you cannot be his disciple. Peter’s reaction during the scene is somewhat comical, but Jesus used his second response to teach that his death is sufficient. Once you are forgiven, you remain clean. However, we are to stay dependent on the cross for our forgiveness, because we can pick up “dirt” on our “feet” as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Growing up, I was apart of a tradition that practiced foot washing like it was equal to baptism or Communion. Though I don’t believe it is necessarily “wrong” to practice foot washing, I believe we sometimes miss the full significance of Jesus’ example and teaching in this passage. After Jesus’ finishes washing the disciples’ feet, he puts back on his garments and commands his disciples to serve just as He served them. Jesus didn’t die for our forgiveness in order that we can be complacent with our lives, but in order to give our lives over to Him in service. Jesus’ has sacrificed for us. In turn, we are called to sacrifice our lives for Jesus and one another. The Christian life is not about you or me as an individual, but Jesus, His sacrifice, and the call to sacrifice our lives for Him and others. During this spring semester as you work day-to-day on your studies, participate in clubs, activities, and sports, and mingle with friends, find ways to sacrifice your life them. Find opportunities to display Christ’s love toward others in service. Subsequently, God might use your service to open the door to a conversation about Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for them.