John 13 - Jesus the Servant
I guess we know the story well don't we. Jesus takes a towel, washes the disciples feet. And tells them that if he, their Lord and Teacher has done this, then they need to wash one another's feet.
What details do we know about this?
Why wash feet like this - dusty roads
Who normally did the washing - normally people washed their own feet
But- not a task required of a Jewish slave of his/her master - too demeaning. Gentile slaves were to do it.
Also - as a sign of devotion or love, a disciple could wash their teacher's feet.
But Jesus does it for the disciples! Hence Peter's reaction (v8): "You will never wash my feet!" But Jesus does!
So this is about Jesus serving - and we are to follow, and serve as he has served us.
I think of people who have served me:
Stan Mair
Prof Vaughan
But I want you to look at a question.
o What indications are there that this passage is about Jesus' death?
(Note Jn 13:1-4 and 13:18-19, 21-30)
- indications that it is about Jesus' death:
o v1 - before the festival of Passover - Jesus dies at Passover (Jn 19:14)
o Jesus knew that his hour had come. In John his hour is the time of his death and resurrection, but particularly his death.
Note John 12:27 "Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.
o he loved them to the end - ie right up to the time of his death
o v2 speaks of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.
o v3 that he was going to God …
o John's language often has deeper meaning - that's the case here. Note v4 Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer robe and tied a towel around himself.
This could be translated as "laid aside his outer robe". This is the verb John often uses in connection with Jesus' death:
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
John 15:13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
So again, "laying aside" his garment is connected with "laying aside" his life. We are to make the connection.
o Note v7 - which shows there is more to this than simply a lesson in humility - a lesson which would be fairly obvious at the time. You don't see it now - later you will understand - when is later? After Jesus' death and resurrection. Again, we see that the foot washing is a symbol for Jesus' death.
o v10b-11 "And you are clean, though not all of you. For he knew who was to betray him…
o And note the clear connection with Jesus' death in 13:18-19, 21-30
So why all of these connections with Jesus' death?
The footwashing is an acted parable. Footwashing is related to Jesus' death - Jesus here acts out a parable of his death.
The question the passage concentrates on is How is the crucifixion - which is getting ever closer - to be interpreted? It is to be seen as the act of humility - the act of servanthood. Of course, it could be a great tragedy, or a huge mistake. At the time of the crucifixion they are to look back to this - and see Jesus' death as service. No, John is saying, its to be seen as the act of humility - the act of service. But more than this.
V8 gets to the heart of it.
John 13:8 Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me."
Peter shows that he does not understand - "You will never wash my feet" is a very strong negative expression in Greek.
But Jesus' response is crucial - "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me."
Thus, the washing itself is vital - without it, a disciple loses his or her "share with me". To have a share with Jesus means to have a part with him in all he is - particularly to share Jesus' life!
Note John 14:19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.
Having a "share in Jesus" means to share his life! Because he lives, we will live.
So the footwashing looks like it is about Jesus washing the disciples' feet - and it is - but it is also about Jesus dying for the disciples. Footwashing is a parable of dying. "Unless I wash you - unless I die for you and you accept this - you have no share with me". So the footwashing - and Jesus' death - makes it possible for the disciple to have a "share with Jesus", to have life with Jesus - this is possible through Jesus' saving death.
Peter misunderstands in v9. If it is so important, then not my feet only but my head and hands!! The more the better. Peter is thinking literally. As is often the case in John, there is misunderstanding.
But in v10 Jesus clarifies.
Washing of feet is the symbol of total cleansing - having a bath. And so if they have bathed - through the washing of feet, and through Jesus' death - they don't need to wash.
Again, this is symbolic - footwashing makes one entirely clean. 1:29 comes to mind - "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
So Peter - thanks for your enthusiasm - but once Jesus has washed your feet - once he has died for you - you are entirely clean!
So this is all about Jesus' death - and so is an introduction to John 13-17, which deals with Jesus' departure, and how to interpret Jesus' death and resurrection.
How do we interpret Jesus' death? What do we learn about Jesus' death here?
- It is the ultimate act of service. In Jesus' death, Jesus humiliates himself and takes on the form of a servant -natural relationships are strikingly reversed - in an act of extravagant humility.
John 15:13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." And here it is the Lord who lays down his life for his subjects!
- But also, Jesus' death is essential for the disciple. It enables the disciple to "have a share with Jesus" - ie to share in Jesus' life. Hence it is renewing, recreating!
And then Jesus goes on in v12-17 to give an additional line of thought. If I have done this - footwashing - but also, we now see - If I have died for you, you ought to do as I have done.
Note v14: "If I, your teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."
I am your Lord - yet I've washed your feet!
Let's backtrack just a little:
Note v3: 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,
The contrast here is very stark - Jesus knows he has been given all things by the Father … Jesus has been given this sort of power by the Father. Yet, in the footwashing - and in his death - he is showing that he is using this power - to save. The one who has all things given to him, the one who is sovereign, actually chooses to be a humble servant. In the footwashing he is symbolising that he uses his power --- to save - through service. He is Lord - but he serves - and nowhere more so than in his death. So who it is who is doing the footwashing is deeply significant- it is Jesus the Lord, the powerful One, the Son, the one who had come from God and was going to God.
But as we've said in v12-20 the footwashing is also seen as an example of service the disciples must imitate. If he, their Lord, the Son of God, despite his power and authority, has done a slave's task for them - how much more readily should disciples act in a similar manner towards one another.
And so v15 underlines that they should follow Jesus' pattern of humility and service.
15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you" - wash each other's feet. Love and serve one another.
BUT a second question:
o What is the connection between Jesus' death and the command that we are to wash each other's feet?
- It is the foundation for what follows! You cannot serve without first being served - "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me". If I do wash you, then you do share with me.
- It cleanses the disciple of sin - through his death you are entirely clean.
BUT we can only imitate if we first have a share with Jesus. The order of the chapter is important. The command to wash each other's feet comes in v15 not in v1! We can only wash other's feet if we have first had our feet washed by Jesus. Jesus' death provides the possibility of acting in accordance with the example. The gift of a share with Jesus is saving and renewing - and enables the model to be reduplicated. Jesus' life empowers.
We can only serve if we have first "had a share with Jesus" - received life through his death for us. The service of Jesus enables a service of one another. He washes our feet first - in dying for us - then we can wash each other's feet. But you can only really serve if you have first been washed by Jesus - made new by his death.
I do not think serving is in the least bit "natural". It is like learning a foreign language - it does not come easy! Txting - learning to!! We need to be made new first, then we can serve.
But serving isn't being subservient - when we are subservient, we do not value ourselves. When we serve, we know that we are infinitely valued, infinitely love - we choose to serve, not because we have to and that is all we possibly could be, but because we choose to.
What prevents you from being a servant? What impediments are there?
So the footwashing is about Jesus' death - which is the ultimate example of his service for humanity. It is an acted parable of what his death means - it is about him dying as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. Through him serving us, we have a share in him, in his life.
And once we have a share with him - then and only then can we serve one another as true servants. Otherwise we serve, with an eye on ourselves. First he serves us - and then as renewed people, we serve each other.
But I want to pick up one final aspect of this passage.
Note what happens from v21. Jesus speaks of one who will betray him. In v26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
Now why does Jesus do this?
Well the background is the custom of dipping food - often bread - in some sort of sauce - a little like Chinese style - dipping meat or bread in a sauce from a common dish. This is the basic gesture of Middle Eastern hospitality. In fact, Jesus the host, is here seen to be singling out Judas as a guest he especially honours and favours - by picking out for him a choice morsel of food. It can be seen as a sign of great affection. So it is incredibly positive. The action would have been deeply significant. Jesus knows what Judas intends to do (v21) yet gives Judas a sign of friendship. This is love, this is servanthood - intended to win him back through love; it is a final appeal to him to be a true disciple. Unfortunately Judas is not won over - and betrays Jesus.
But it is the ultimate act of love, the ultimate act of service to a betrayer. We see again that Jesus is the servant - the loving one! Jesus' never-failing love is even there for a disciple like Judas - his love reaches out even to the archetype of betrayal and of evil - revealing amazing love, love to the end (John 13:1).
Jesus the servant - seeks to serve and love even the one who will betray him! This is the true greatness of love and of service. It is the way of God.