John - Chapter 13, Part 1
CHRIST WASHES THE FEET OF THE DISCIPLES
JOHN 13:1-17
The new subject introduced in chapter 13 is one of cleansing. The disciples themselves, each one, must be cleansed to take the next step in the Gospel plan and the group (community) must be cleansed of the one who will betray Jesus. Both these cleansings are in preparation of receiving the Holy Spirit.
We remember that Jesus came to His own and they did not receive Him and we remember that those few who did accept were brought into a new status of becoming children of God. At the end of chapter 12, the closing of His public ministry, we are told in verse 36 that He departed and hid himself from them, meaning from the nation.
Now in chapters 13-17 we will see Jesus in the most intimate fellowship with His disciples, revealing to them the place they held in His love and that this love would continue even after He returns to the Father. He loved these men “to the end” (1), and this meant even after He had returned above. In this effort, Jesus to a degree brings His disciples into heaven in spirit, revealing the communion of togetherness and of love.
Here in these first few verses, as they are together before the Passover Feast, His eye seems to be on things above as He knows His hour has come (1) and also His eye is on those who are truly His own (4). Jesus is carefully showing that He is that which the laver in the Tabernacle pointed toward. That laver was for purifying by washing before entering the holy area, and now Jesus is that washing incarnated.
Remember that in chapter 12 the feet of Jesus were anointed, and now the feet of the disciples are to be washed, removing from them the dirt and grime which defile them as they walk for Christ in the days to come. We should note that this cleansing was by water. The blood of Christ will cleanse from sin soon as the cross is only days away, and that cleansing is for the standing before God, but the water is to cleanse to allow a pure condition, as in Numbers 19, which teaches of “water of purification”. Once more the OT is revealed in the NT.
After all the conflicts that have been shown to us so far in John, Jesus now comforts His own heart by pouring out love on those who are truly His. Here comes clear the teaching of Paul in 1 Cor 6:19 “Ye are not your own”. How is it that we are not our own any longer after we accept in faith?
First, we belong to the Lord by the Father's eternal election, a love gift from the Father to the Son, planned before the foundation of the world.
Second, we belong to the Lord by His right having redeemed us. He paid the purchase price and bought us for Himself.
Third, we belong to the Lord by the effectual call of the Holy Spirit. If anyone be in Christ we are a new creation, new born of the Spirit.
In this love, which is holy, none can stand defiled by the grime and dirt of this world. So Jesus prepares these few who are His by cleansing them Himself. After supper had ended He takes on the role of the lowest of servants, removing His own outer clothing and girded with a towel, He began to wash the feet of the disciples.
He knew His hour had arrived. As He began this most humble task, Peter asks Jesus why. And we see His answer in verse 8 by saying that “... If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me...”. This word “part” is meant to be understood as fellowship or inheritance. It is the same word Jesus uses in Luke 10:42 when Mary sat at the feet of Jesus while Martha served and Jesus said that Mary had chosen the good part.
The beginning of the church was a little over 50 days away and the lesson of this moment of self humility by the Lord was well taught by Paul in Eph 5:25-26:
“Christ loved the church and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word”.
As in other cases, Peter speaks too quickly and asks why. Jesus sweetly explains that he may not understand it now, but will understand it hereafter. (7) Peter says that Jesus will NEVER wash his feet. But Jesus in a kind rebuke teaches him that it is proper so that Peter will have fellowship with Him (part). In typical Peter fashion, he now asks Jesus to wash his feet and his hands and his head. Jesus tells him that only the feet are necessary, in order that the walk will be clean. Only one who ever walked here was not in need of cleansing, and that was Jesus.
But Jesus warned that not all were clean after the washing of their feet. Verses 2 & 27 both teach that Satan entered Judas. Jesus teaches in verse 10 and verse 11 also teaches that He knew who would betray Him, but did not call his name. We remember that we learned in the miracle of the raising of Lazarus that Jesus calls His sheep BY NAME.
The last lesson of this passage is found in verse 16 in which Jesus teaches that the servant is not greater than his Lord. Verse 15 provides the lesson that Jesus gave an example to the disciples. We should hold that example close to our own hearts as we also should consider ourselves servants (Paul says slaves) of Christ and we should be always willing to humble ourselves following His example.
HUMBLE DOES NOT MEAN WE THINK LESS OF OURSELVES.
HUMBLE MEANS WE THINK OF OURSELVES LESS.
