John 13 - Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

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Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

Jesus' time on earth was coming to an end and so was his three years with his disciples. On the night of his last meal with them, he would need to leave with them an indelible impression about what he wanted them to be about after he left. So he took the occasion to wash his disciples' feet before dinner. 

This was the job of a servant. When Jesus came to Peter to wash his feet, Peter was mortified. He protested telling Jesus he would never let him wash his feet. Then, Jesus said if he wouldn't let him was his feet, he had no part of him or his ministry. Like the other disciples, Peter thought Jesus was going to deliver the Jews and restore them to the glory they once had as a nation. Surely this had nothing to do with washing feet, but to Jesus it had everything to do with washing feet. 

Jesus was setting an example for them about how they were to serve others just as he had done. As he washed their feet, he would call on them to wash other's feet. If Jesus, the Son of God, could get down on his knees and wash the dirty feet of his friends, we should surely being willing to wash other's feet. 

I don't think Jesus was being literal, though there might be sometimes where we might wash someone else's feet. Jesus was saying that as his followers, we have given up our right to think we are better than others. As a Christ follower, our number one goal is to be a servant. To consider others as better than ourselves. As a Christian, nothing should ever be beneath us. We should be the first person ready to do the thing nobody wants to do. 

Would you say your life reflects this quality of being a servant? Where might God be calling you to serve following the footsteps of our master? 

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

Jesus knew one of the disciples was going to betray him. Just because he knew it didn't make it any easier on him. As we know from the famous Last Supper scene, each of the disciples wondered if it was them. Peter nudged John to ask Jesus, as he leaned up against Jesus. Jesus told John it was the one who he would give the bread to. When Judas took the bread and dipped it, Jesus told Judas to leave and do what he was going to do quickly. Judas fled and it was night. The disciples were not really sure what this all meant, but Jesus and Judas did. The passage says when Judas dipped the bread, "Satan entered him." In what way to Satan enter into Judas?

“Satan could not have entered into him had he not granted him admission. Had he been willing to say ‘No’ to the adversary, all of his Master’s intercessory power was available to him there and then to strengthen him.” (Bruce)

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

Though Judas betrayed Jesus, he was not the only disciple who was going to disappoint Jesus that night. In fact, they all would. But Jesus singled out Peter because more than the others, Peter had misunderstood Jesus' mission. Peter overstated who Jesus was and understated how quickly he would reject Jesus. In another gospel Peter says to Jesus, "Even though all the others betray you, I will never betray you!" 

It must have been hard for Peter to hear Jesus predict that before the rooster crowed two times, he would have already denied Jesus three times. While Peter was bold in saying how much he was willing to sacrifice for Jesus, when it came down to it he would say to the crowds, "I don't even know the man?" 

Before we judge Peter, I wonder if all of us deny Jesus in one way or another? We might deny Jesus by what we say or do, or by what we don't say or do. We deny Jesus when we put ourselves above others. We deny Jesus when we don't stand up for things that he would have us stand up for? 

Fortunately Jesus will forgive Peter and given him a second chance, just as he does with us! Where might you be like Peter in denying Jesus?