Gospel of St. John
Washing the Disciples Feet – 13:1-11
The first twelve chapters of this gospel show Jesus’ ministry and mission. They show that he was not received by the Jewish nation. Those who did receive him are now brought close to him as they learn of their privileges as children of God. At the beginning of the twelfth chapter, Jesus’ feet were anointed. Here, his disciples’ feet are washed. Jesus the Christ was not defiled by walking in this world. Why the rest of us must wash repeatedly is explained below.
“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And Supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” Jesus knows his hour has come and he will shortly be returning to his Father. He loved his own in the world and will love them unto the end. We are reminded that we are not our own. We are Jesus’ own. We belong to him in three ways. We are chosen by the Father to be a gift to the Son. We were purchased by Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. We are his through the effectual call of the Holy Spirit. By being in Christ, we are created anew by the Holy Spirit.
As always, Jesus is not just indicating that he loved his disciples. He is also preparing them for life after he returns to the Father. He is aware that Judas Iscariot will betray him. He knows that the Father has placed all things in his hands. His divinity, authority and glory are obvious to all and now he begins to take the part of a servant to those he loves. He laid aside his garments and took on the garb of a bond-servant. He girded himself with a towel and began to wash the disciples’ feet. Notice, he not only washed them, He dried them as well.
“Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.” We are again afforded an opportunity to learn by the mistakes of Simon Peter. Which of us would think it appropriate for the Lord Jesus Christ to wash our feet? Jesus acknowledged that Peter could not understand what he was doing and assured him that he would understand later. Peter thought it humiliating to have the Lord wash his feet. Jesus gently told him he would wash the feet of all his disciples and refusal was not an option.
Now Peter accepts he must be washed, but insists that his head and hands be washed as well. Now another part of the lesson is becoming clear. The disciples were created anew by the Holy Spirit and came to be in Christ. This is the washing that changed their lives and they would never be the same. This washing did not need to be repeated. They did not need to be reconverted to Christ. But as we noted before, walking on this earth picks up the dirt of the sins and iniquity around us. The dust (sins and defilements) of this world needed to be cleansed from their feet. The lesson is that we are not expected to avoid defilement in this world as did Christ. We will sin and we need cleansing. We get our cleansing from confession and prayer. While we acknowledge the undefiled footsteps we are attempting to follow; our trespasses still need to be forgiven.
Jesus knows that Judas Iscariot will betray him. Try to imagine how hard the heart of Judas must have been to observe the condescending love and grace of Jesus toward the disciples. It was not a case of losing spiritual life. It was a case of never having a spiritual life. It is a great warning to those who maintain an outward form of godliness and remain strangers to its inward power.
Christ’s Example – 13:12-20
There are two washings. The first is washing by regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. This occurs only once. The second involves removing the dirt of this world from our character. Nothing is unknown to God. Nonetheless, we must cleanse the dirt of this world by confession and prayer. Jesus said, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Failure to be open and honest with Jesus precludes a relationship with him.
“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you.” We must note that Jesus washed the feet of all twelve disciples. It tells us how we should treat an offender in our midst. Suspicion is not an appropriate basis for action. When the offense is entirely clear, it can be dealt with in a righteous manner.
After the washing, the disciples still did not know the spiritual significance of what he had done to them. They were astonished at his humility but did not get the big picture. He was truly Lord (requiring obedience) and Master (requiring belief). If He washed the feet of those who must believe and obey him, they ought to be washing the feet of each other. We are not to ignore the sins of our brethren. On the other hand, we are not to notice the sins of our brethren and take delight in their failure to live up to God’s will. We will be judged by whatsoever judgment we apply to others. This simply says we must love our neighbors as our self. This spiritual lesson overwhelms the mere act of physically washing another’s feet. It is another warning that strict adherence to ritual can camouflage the lessons and importance of the spiritual world.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither is he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” The lesson in humility shows the love we are to show one another. Jesus served the disciples to show his love. Now we get a reminder that love is not the only issue to be observed in this world. Even though he served them, they are not greater than him. Furthermore, even though Jesus is serving God in his mission on earth, He is not greater than God. We must remember God’s order in all things. If we are to find happiness in this life, we must do those things commanded of us by God through Jesus Christ. We find them by:
Jesus reminds them that not all of them will be happy. He acknowledges that he chose a betrayer as part of the twelve. He did so to fulfill Holy Scripture. Judas participated in all the activities of the other disciples and they had no idea he was to betray him so quickly and in so awful a manner. Again Jesus is telling the disciples things they will not understand until his crucifixion has taken place. A betrayer must be in their midst and Christ must die and be resurrected.
Again Jesus reminds them, “Those who receive those he sends receives him as well.” In addition, “Those who receive him receive the Father that sent him as well. We also get an indication that we are to receive God’s word even if the messenger proves to be unworthy.
The Last Supper specifically portrays the reaction given by each apostle when Jesus said one of them would betray him. All twelve apostles have different reactions to the news, with various degrees of anger and shock. The apostles are identified from a manuscript (The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci p. 232) with their names found in the 19th century. From left to right they are::
Ř Bartholomew, James, son of Alphaeus and Andrew form a group of three, all are surprised.
Ř Judas Iscariot, Peter and John form another group of three. Judas is in shadow, looking rather withdrawn and taken aback by the sudden revelation of his plan. He is clutching a small bag. Peter looks angry and is holding a knife pointed away from Christ. John appears faint.
Ř Jesus
Ř Apostle Thomas, James the Greater and Philip are the next group of three. Thomas is clearly upset; James the Greater looks stunned, with his arms in the air. Meanwhile, Philip appears to be requesting some explanation.
Ř Matthew, Jude Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot are the final group of three. Both Jude Thaddeus and Matthew are turned toward Simon, perhaps to find out if he has any answer to their initial questions.