John 13:1, 3–10a, 12–17

Bible Studies for Life
Director, Extension Division, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Humble Service
John 13:1, 3–10a, 12–17
In Chapter 12, John presents three different, but very special, scenes that focus on Jesus’ royalty. First, in the home of His Bethany friends, Mary anoints Christ’s feet with valuable perfume. The next day, Jesus enters Jerusalem with a welcome that is normally afforded a conquering hero. Thirdly, in the midst of the Jewish Passover feast, several Greeks who had come to the celebration express a great need to see Him. They request an “audience” in the same manner as one would ask to speak with a king. Each of these glimpses serves to reinforce that Jesus is the “royal” Son of God — even as He prepares to act in a manner contrary to an “all-powerful,” conquering “king” of Israel.

The Perfect Example (1, 3–5)
The evening before His death, Jesus gathered with the disciples to celebrate the Passover meal. Before they finished, He surprised them by taking a towel and filling a basin with water. Jesus, the Son of God, then began to do the unthinkable by washing and drying the dirty feet of each man.

The Natural Response (6–10a)
When Jesus reached Simon Peter, the disciple couldn’t comprehend that the Lord would be cleaning his feet and wouldn’t allow Him to do so. Christ then explained that unless Peter submitted to this washing, he would not be able to continue enjoying fellowship with Him. Peter then enthusiastically responded by asking to have his entire body bathed — requiring Jesus to clarify that one “complete cleansing” is enough for those who are His own.

The Divine Blessing (12–17)
Knowing that the disciples hadn’t fully grasped the significance of the foot washing, Jesus explained that He wanted them to do for others what He had just demonstrated. He wanted them to see Him as an example of how they were to act. That if they were truly His followers, they would look to be servants and not to be served.

Interesting demonstration, interesting dialogue. Jesus’ words and actions may astound, but He didn’t desire to confuse. Those things that He wanted the disciples to understand He did not leave open for conjecture. So that they might grasp the purpose behind the “foot washing,” Jesus explained why He did what He did: “I gave you an example so that you might do to others as I did to you.” Even though He was the “master,” Christ was explaining that He was not too great to serve. In fact, He wanted them to know that His greatness was measured by His service, service that they would see demonstrated in even greater measure in the next few hours. And Jesus wanted them to recognize that their greatness was also determined by their service to each other and their fellow man.

The Scriptures contain everything God wants us to know. He never wishes to confuse His people. If, in prayer, we’ll study the Bible and listen to His Holy Spirit, we’ll understand what He wants us to. God’s Word is clear that, out of love and for His own purpose, He chose to serve us with His words, actions and life. And in that service, He calls us to serve others.

The Royal Ruler of the universe, the only God who is or has ever been, bows to wash the feet of men. What a picture! Jesus putting His hands on filthy feet?

But when you stop to think about it, aren’t feet a metaphor for people? Some are big and some are small. There are many that don’t smell good. Some feet are diseased and deformed. Some are in constant pain and others are broken. People are just like feet. And the Son of God willingly takes us into His hands and cleanses us if we accept it. But here’s the hard part of this lesson — those who have been made clean by God are supposed to do the same to others. We are to reach out to the dirty, diseased, deformed, hurting and broken and seek to restore while showing the love and grace Christ has shown us. That’s hard. That’s real. And that’s what God expects and commands of us.