The greatest servant that ever walked the face of the earth was Jesus himself. In Mark 10:45 we are taught that He came to serve, not to be served. Even though He was the King of Kings, He never placed himself in a position to be served. He was always seeing to the needs of others. The days before His death were no different.
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In John 13:1-16, Jesus is about to enjoy a meal with His disciples. It is the feast of the Passover. Verse 1 says that “He knew His hour was come.” Being the all-knowing God in the flesh none of the events leading to His death was a surprise. As an introduction to this event John, known as the beloved, tells us that He loved until the end. John knew much about this love, He spent many days with Jesus, and at the Passover meal, He was seated next to Jesus. In John 13:23, it is John who is leaning on Jesus; “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”
John 13:1 “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.”
They sat and ate and enjoyed being together. The Passover meal had been a time of reflection and celebration since God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt through the leadership of Moses. However, this Passover was different. They were eating the Passover meal with the Passover Lamb.
This was also a meal that would bring to light Judas the betrayer. In John 13:2, we learn that the devil had put this into the heart of Judas. I love how the commentator Albert Barnes explains this situation. “Satan inclined the mind of Judas to do this, or he tempted him to betray his Master. We know not precisely how this was done, but we know that it was by means of his extreme greed for wealth or material gain). Satan could tempt no one unless there was some inclination of the mind, some natural or depraved propensity that he could make use of. He presents objects in alluring forms fitted to that propensity, and under the influence of a strong or a corrupt inclination the soul yields to sin. In the case of Judas, it was the love of money; and it was necessary to present to him only the possibility of obtaining money, and it found him ready for any crime.”
John 13:2 “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him”
Now in the following verses, we see the servant of all serving His disciples. He finishes the meal and rises, lays his outer garments aside, takes a towel, and puts it around His waist with enough hanging over to dry their feet. He begins to pour water into a bowl, stoops down, and begins to wash His disciples’ feet and dry them with a towel. Normally this would have been the job of the servant of the house. It was a matter of necessity because they traveled on dirt roads or pathways without shoes or in sandals. It would have been easy for Jesus to access their feet because of the way they reclined at the table. The disciples must have been a little shocked and humbled by their Master washing their feet. We don’t know who He washed first, but we do know that by the time He got to Peter, Peter was appalled by the thought of Jesus washing His feet. He could not fathom the Messiah washing His feet. Jesus sets Him straight. He knows Peter does not understand why it is important that He wash their feet. As He states in verse 7, “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” In other words, when this week is over you’ll see the big picture and it will be clear to you how important this is. As Peter refused strongly Jesus answers him. If I don’t wash your feet, you have no part of me, again in expressive Peter fashion, Peter replies “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus washed the feet of each of them and then sat down to explain that they should take His example and wash one another’s feet. In Joh 13:15 He makes it clear that they were to follow His example, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
John 13:3-16 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 bason and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 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. 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. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.”
Now comes the application. There are no parts of scripture that are an accident or “fill in” to complete a page. All scripture is given by inspiration of God so that we may apply it and obey it. II Timothy 3:16 gives us this instruction. Most churches in our time period do not practice feet washing. They explain it away as symbolic therefore it is just an example of service, and it is an example of service, but Jesus directly says to do it! Most would think this is a gross practice but that’s because they have never done it. They are too proud or too uneducated about the practice to enjoy the beauty of it. I happen to be in a church that does practice the Lord’s supper and then the men and women separate and wash one another’s feet. It is truly a humbling experience. It is also one of the most blessed experiences I have ever had. I love kneeling down at the feet of a sister in Christ, taking her hand, praying for her, and washing her feet. It is an expression of love and humility that every Christian should experience. Some may do it and it may be just another check off-the-box deal, but if you pray with your sister first it changes the entire feeling of washing her feet. It adds spiritual value to your obedience. No, our feet are not dirty like those of Jesus’ day, but it wouldn’t matter if they were, we should still obey Jesus’ command to do it.
What about you? Are you willing to kneel down and wash another one’s feet? As we approach Easter, add value to your worship by looking for the opportunity to do this for another sister in Christ. I once had a sister call me and ask if she could do this for me. When I opened the door, there she stood with her basin and towel. I wouldn’t take anything for that precious time. Will this seem strange and yucky to those of the world or those who don’t understand the command? Yes, it will, but as Christians, we are not to be in step with this world, if we are, we need to change. Be a servant!
