Jesus Washes Feet – �The Motivation, The Posture, and The Meaning

JOHN 13:1-11

13 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (John 13:1)

² Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. ⁴ So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. ⁵ Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. (John 13:2-5)

² Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. ⁴ So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. ⁵ Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. (John 13:2-5)

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”

⁸ “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” (John 13:6-8)

⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

¹⁰ “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” (John 13:9-11)

1.) The Motivation: �Security and Love

JOHN 13:1-3

13 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (John 13:1)

“In the earlier part we are told that things did not happen ‘because his hour had not yet come’ (2:4; 7:30; 8:20). In 12:23 and thereafter (12:27; 13:1; 16:32; 17:1) we learn that ‘the hour has come’. The hour was the hour of Jesus’ departure from this world to return to the Father through his death, resurrection and exaltation.”

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- Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries

² Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. ⁴ So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. ⁵ Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. (John 13:2-5)

The Motivation of Love

13 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (John 13:1)

“The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.”

(John 8:29)

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” (John 13:34)

“Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-3)

Application

CONSIDER YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LOVE YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER IN CHRIST TILL THE VERY END.

² Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. ⁴ So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. ⁵ Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. (John 13:2-5)

The Motivation of Security

“All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27)

¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Application

Remember the security of God in our service unto Him. He is with us.

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2.) The Posture of Humility

JOHN 13:4-5

² Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. ⁴ So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. ⁵ Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. (John 13:2-5)

“A wife might wash her husband’s feet, children might wash their father’s feet, and disciples might wash their master’s feet, but in every case it would be an act of extreme devotion. Foot washing was normally carried out by a servant, not by those participating in the meal, and certainly not by the one presiding at the meal. According to later Jewish tradition, a Jewish slave would not be asked to wash people’s feet. That task was assigned to a Gentile slave. Presumably, there was no servant at the venue where Jesus ate the Passover with his disciples. There must have been a period of embarrassment as the disciples realized there was no-one available to do the foot washing, and none of them was prepared to carry out this menial service for the others.”

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- Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries

How low are we willing to stoop to serve others for His glory? �

The Consistent Message of Humility

The Consistent Message of Humility

Application

3.) The Meaning: A Relationship that Leads to Cleansing

JOHN 13:6-8

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”

⁸ “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” (John 13:6-8)

“His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.” �(John 12:16)

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”

⁸ “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” (John 13:6-8)

We must surrender our pride and accept His grace, acknowledging our absolute need for His cleansing. And this can only take place in a relationship with Him.

¹⁹ Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought at a price. So, glorify God with your body. (1Cor. 6:19-20)

²⁸ “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:18-20)

Application

Jesus wants to cleanse you. We must offer the parts that need to be cleansed today. Start with repentance and then give Him the trust that He will cleanse you for His purposes.

⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

¹⁰ “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” (John 13:9-11)

Recap

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