Footwashing: A Lesson in Humility

John 13:1‑17

 

Intro: The Gospel of John is divided into two sections: chapters 1‑12 and chapters 13‑21. Both of these divisions are introduced by the expression “His own” (1:11; 13:1).

1.       “His own” in 1:11 are the Jews.

a. He came to “His own” in grace, and they rejected Him in pride and stubborn self‑will.

b. They refused to humble themselves and believe.

2.       “His own” in 13:1 are believers whether Jew or Gentile.  “His own” are those who have received Him as Lord and Saviour (John 1:12).

 

Jesus teaches by example the importance of humility in our service to others in John 13:1‑17.

 

I.        Vss. 1‑3, Jesus Manifests His Love For “His Own.”

A.       Vs. 1, The feast of Passover is about to take place.

1. “His hour was come.” Jesus is about to depart from this world and go home to the Father.

a. The hour was set before the foundation of the world.  Jesus is “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev 13:8).

b. Jesus knew this hour in His boyhood. When He read the scriptures, He saw the hour of the cross on page after page.

c. When working in the carpenter shop in Nazareth, He knew the hour.

d. At His baptism and throughout His earthly ministry, He knew the hour; and now the hour has come.

2. Jesus is getting ready to “depart out of this world.” This departure would be in two stages: Calvary and then Olivet.

3. “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.”

a. The hour of crucifixion is facing Jesus; yet, He thinks now of Himself. He thinks of “His own.”

b. With all of their faults and failures, He loves them.

1- He knows that in a few hours, they’ll forsake Him; and Peter will deny Him. Yet, He loves them.

2- Those who believe on Him, accept Him as Saviour are “His own.” We are bought with a price; we are now our own. We belong to Christ (I Cor. 6:19‑20).

4. “Loved them unto the end.” Christ loves His own to the furtherest extent, to the uttermost. His love is an everlasting love.

B.       Vs. 2, The Passover supper is now ended; the Lord’s Supper is yet to be observed.

1.       The devil injects into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus.

a. Jesus had predicted the one of the twelve would betray Him (6:70‑71).

b. Judas is the only one of the disciples who was lost. He is called the son of perdition in John 17:12.

2.       Judas was an unbeliever and would go to hell because of the sin of unbelief.

C.      Vs. 3, Here we have the power, origin, and destiny of Jesus.

1.       He is Lord over all the universe.

2.       He is one with the Father.

3.       He came from the Father.

4.       He ascended to the Father.

5.       Jesus, the Lord of all, is about to stoop down and wash the feet of the disciples, the work of a household slave.

 

II.       Vss. 4‑11, Instructions in Humility

A.       Vs. 4, Note the details of this footwashing as the details unfold.

1. He arose from the supper table, the elements still being there. The disciples did not know what was about to happen.

2. He laid aside His long, loose flowing outer garment (usually taken off for work or as a cover for sleep).

3. He took a towel and girded Himself as a servant ready to do a servant’s work (Phil. 2:7).  F. B. Meyer said: “ He rose from His kingly throne, and laid aside His garments of royalty; and took the towel of humanity and wrapped it around Himself.  After that He poured out His precious blood and made possible the cleansing of His disciples” (Powell 275).

B.       Vs. 5, Jesus took a basin, filled it with water, and began to wash the disciples feet; feet dirty from the walk from Bethany to Jerusalem.

1. The Old Testament teaches us that footwashing was a rite of hospitality. When a guest appeared at the tent door, it was customary to offer what was needed to wash his feet.

2. Footwashing was seen as an act of humility and love. Jesus is love kneels, washes the disciples feet, and dries their feet with the towel.

3. Why had not one of the disciples taken the initiative and offered to wash the Lord’s feet and the feet of the others? The basin was there; the water pitcher and towel were in plain sight.

a. The disciples did not act because they were in a dispute on who was the greatest.

b. Jesus would teach them that greatest is not evidenced by being served, but by being a servant.  This must have been a rebuke to the disciples. He was ready to do a servant’s work. We live in a day when most want to be served. They do not want to be servants.

C.      Vs. 6, Jesus now comes to Peter and is ready to wash his feet. Peter reacts by saying, “Lord dost thou wash my feet.” Peter was shocked.

1. What Peter should have done for Jesus, Jesus is doing for him.

2. Note the words “thou” and “my.”  “Thou” denotes the Lord of glory; “my” denotes Peter’s dirty feet. The lord of glory on one hand, and Peter’s dirty feet on the other. Could it be that Peter saw the Lord of glory (vs. 3) washing his feet and in seeing this a deep sense of unworthiness swept over him? Friends, Jesus does so much for us. He left heaven’s glory, came to earth, and died for sinners. This should humble us.

D.      Vs. 7, Jesus was bringing comfort to His own by His humiliation. The footwashing and the lesson on humiliation will become clear to Peter after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Peter had to grow spiritually through the work of the Holy Spirit.

E.       Vs. 8, Peter declares, “Thou shalt never wash my feet¼” Peter was saying, “not now or ever will you was my feet.” The Lord’s reply, “If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me.”

1. Peter was rather obstinate.  We might sense a little pride and self‑righteousness here.

2. Friends, let’s not get so caught up in our pride that we refuse what the Lord Jesus offers to do for us. “Jesus answered him, if I was thee not, thou hast no part with me.’

a. “If I was thee not¼” We cannot wash our own feet. The Lord must do it through His word.

b. “Part” has to do with fellowship. “¼Thou hast no fellowship with me” (Note II Cor 6:15).

F.       Vs. 9. Peter, not wanting to in any wise have his fellowship with the Lord hindered, replies, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”  Peter swings from one extreme to the next, as so many people do. Truth out of balance leads to heresy.

G.      Vs. 10. Jesus is speaking of the spiritual not the physical. Those who believe in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb do not need to be washed all over because the blood of Christ provides a once and for all cleansing from sin—a complete bath. The idea in the Greek is the “Once bathed, always bathed,” or “once saved, always saved.”

1. Spiritually, God washes, bathes, us at the moment we are saved. Our scarlet sins are cleansed white as snow.

2. Our feet need to be washed because we walk through life’s dirty streets. We get grimy. We do not need another bath just cleansing from sin (I John 1:9).

3. “But no all¼” refers to Judas, the traitor. Judas was an unbeliever, lost and on the way to hell.

H.      Vs. 11, The Lord Jesus in His foreknowledge knew that Judas would betray Him. He knew Judas was not clean, was not saved.

 

III.      Vss. 12‑17, Humble Service Taught By Jesus Example

A.       Vs. 12, Jesus put up the towel and put on His outer garment and said, “Know ye what I have done to you?”

1. We can imagine just how silent the room must have been and how intense the disciples were.

2. The disciples knew that Jesus had washed their feet, but beyond that they did not know.

3. Jesus wants them to see that true greatness comes from serving.

B.       Vs. 13, Note the contrast between the lofty titles He bore the lowly task He had performed.