THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS' PUBLIC MINISTRY AND HIS CRUCIFIXION
-Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet
-John 13:1-20
-In regards to John 13:1: “These words form a preface to the remainder of John’s Gospel in
which John enumerates the tokens and evidences of that love which manifested itself throughout
the entire passion, and continued until the hour of ascension; and which, by so doing, gave sweet
assurance that it continues still” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 648).
-Unfortunately, the words “before the feast of Passover” have been the subject of much
debate. “It is needlessly inferred that John by this expression means that it was a full day
before the Passover meal. In fact, the words in verse 2 ‘during supper’ rather imply that
‘before Passover’ was just before the meal began” (Robertson, pg 144, fn).
-John is simply reminding us of the continuing love that Jesus had toward His
followers - even in the most difficult of times.
-“And during supper…” (John 13:2, NASB), Judas having already decided to betray our Lord
and Jesus knowing that the time of His return to the Father was growing closer, rose from the
table and began to wash the apostles’ feet.
-What an act of humility! Here, the Son of God who is about to offer Himself up for the sins
of the world, displays the mind and actions of servitude.
-The fact that Jesus assumed the role of a servant served as an object lesson in response to the
apostles’ contention about greatness.
-Let us not forget that the feet that Jesus washed included those of Judas.
-When Jesus came to Peter, Peter first objected to having Jesus wash His feet. Peter had a hard
time seeing Jesus in such servitude - as a foot washer. Clearly, he could not understand Jesus’
ultimate role of a servant - as a crucified Savior - until after the fact.
-Jesus told Peter, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me” (vs 8, NASB).
-“This response of Jesus may have a deeper and more far-reaching meaning than we are in
the habit of seeing in it. If I was thee not, if I cleanse thee not, thou hast no part with me.
[Your part is submission to my will. It is not for you to question - only to obey. Make your
choice, submission or exclusion.] The reply of Jesus had a double meaning. The question of
purification was brought out again; If I purify you not, you have no part with me. While this
literal washing was primarily referred to, the deeper significance of a spiritual purification
was implied. (Rev. 1:5, 6)” (Boles, pg 207-208).
-Peter then respectfully responded, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”
-Oh, if only more people displayed this eager attitude toward the cleansing offered by Christ!
-Jesus then explained to Peter that it was not necessary to was his hands and head. “The
language implies that the disciples had bathed before leaving Bethany, and that only their feet,
soiled by the Journey to Jerusalem, needed to be rewashed.” The original bath had made Peter
clean. Only his feet had become dirty again. So, with his feet washed, he was “completely
clean” (vs 10, NASB).
-With spiritual applications, Jesus was indicating that the initial cleansing that a person
receives when baptized into Him would remain effective and legitimate. When done in a
proper manner, there is no need to repeat it. However, we can become dirty again and must
therefore continue to seek the cleansing made available through Christ. “It is the daily
cleansing which we are taught, to seek, when in the spirit of adoption we say, "Our Father
which art in heaven-forgive us our debts;" and, when burdened with the sense of manifold
shortcomings-as what tender heart of a Christian is not?-is it not a relief to be permitted thus
to wash our feet after a day's contact with the earth?” (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown).
-Yet, even though the apostles had followed the same course - having previously bathed and
now with washed feet - there was still one who was not clean. Of course, Jesus was talking
of Judas.
-These words of Jesus remind us that our cleansing is not one of merely following certain
steps in a ceremonial manner. Instead, it is required that those steps be taken with
sincerity of heart. Judas’ heart was not sincere. Therefore he was defiled.
-“Hence it was that Judas, though he had done all that the others had done, was still as
foul as ever” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 650).
-Having washed the apostles feet, Jesus instructed the apostles to follow His example - to serve
one another. The servant is not greater than the Lord. Therefore, the servants should be willing
to do that which the Lord has done.
-Not only were they to understand the lesson, they were to apply it.
-“The spirit that is willing to serve is one that will always bring happiness, and without which
true happiness cannot be attained. A person that is always expecting and exacting deference
will be unhappy. Seek to show deference, let such esteem others better than themselves, is
the spirit that Christ inculcates and is one that will bring happiness in time and eternity”
(Boles, John, pg 211).
-In regards to Jesus’ words recorded in verses 17-20, McGarvey and Pendleton gave a very good
summary: “The meaning…may be brought out more easily if we paraphrase it as follows: ‘I do
not speak of blessing to you all, for there is one who shall never be blessed. His conduct does
not deceive or surprise me, for I know those whom I have chosen whether they be good or bad.
His choosing is in accordance with the prophecy contained in the Book of Psalms. Hitherto, I
have held my peace about him, but henceforth I shall point out his course, that my
foreknowledge of his actions may strengthen your faith in my Messiahship, and not leave you in
that condition of hopelessness and despair in which the consequences of his actions would place
you if you thought those consequences had come upon me unawares. Do not let his treachery
shake your confidence in me, for verily I say unto you that in being my messengers ye are
indeed the messengers of the Most High’” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 651).