John 13:1-17
Q.1. What was the awareness of Jesus regarding His mission? Why was the foot-washing by Jesus remarkable? – (Jn.13:1-4)
Jesus was about to die as the Passover Lamb but was keenly aware that His mission would end in victory, albeit through extreme suffering, betrayal, and alienation – 1 … Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father … 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God (Jn.13:1 & 3). In spite of the horror of the cross, Jesus was thinking about us -having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end (Jn.13:1). Any of us in that position would have been preoccupied with the pain and rejection we were facing. This is what made the foot washing episode so remarkable. Even at this late hour, Jesus was continuing to lay the groundwork for the success of His mission to save sinners.
Q.2. What do we learn from the reluctance of Peter to have his feet washed by Jesus? What makes foot washing useless? – (Jn.13:5-11)
Jesus chose Peter as one of the twelve. We learn so much from his extreme response – Never will You wash my feet! (Jn.13:8). This gave rise to the unveiling of a significant principle, demonstrated by Jesus. No foot washing could ever cleanse a heart. It would seem that Judas happily let Jesus wash his feet, even though his heart was set against Christ. By contrast, the other eleven had been bathed, and had committed themselves to Christ and His mission. Therefore, the foot washing kept them joined to Christ – 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” (Jn.13:10-11). Foot washing only had significance for those who had been bathed in Christ.
Q.3. What lesson was Jesus teaching those who follow Him? How did Christ up-end the world’s view of greatness? – (Jn.13:12-17)
First century roads were covered with the waste products of trade and animals. Feet would get filthy, so foot washing was a normal custom (Lk.7:44). It was the role of the menial servants, not the masters. However, Jesus was intentional in demonstrating that true Christian fellowship exposes the pomp and fakery of the world – 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him (Jn.13:14-16). It took real humility to wash dirty feet. Each of the disciples had considered it beneath his dignity to serve his companions in that way. Such humility should still be expressed by believers today – ‘you are blessed if you practice humility’ (Jn.13:17).