Clean Feet 07-07-2024
Text: Johon 13:1-17
Today is another day where we will celebrate the Lord's Supper. I would like to call attention to something Jesus did that night that is often overlooked. Our text comes from John 13:1-17: "(1) Now before the Feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. (2) And super being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him; (3) Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; (4) He rose from supper, and laid aside His garments and took a towel and girded Himself. (5) After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash the Disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. (6) Then cometh He to Simon Peter and Peter said unto Him, Lord, do you wash my feet? (7) Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter." (8) Peter said unto Him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, "If I wash you not, you have no part with Me." (9) Simon Peter said unto Him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head. (10) Jesus said to Him, "He who is washed needs not save to wash His feet but is clean every whit; and you are clean, but not all." (11) For He knew who should betray Him; therefore, said He, "You are not all clean." (12) So, after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, "Do you know what I have done to you? (13) "Ye call Me Maser and Lord and you say well for so I am. (14) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (15) For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. (16) Verily verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord; neither He who is sent greater than He who sends Him, (17) If ye know these things, happy are you if you do them."
Well, this isn't something that is typically talked about on Good Friday. On that night, Jesus knew full well that the time had come for Him to be betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and deserted by all of His Disciples. These acts were an example of the wickedness of Satan that is ingrained in all of humanity. Still, that night He showed His love for them and continued to teach until the very end about how they should live their lives after He had gone from them physically.
In addition to a teacher and the Savior of the world, Jesus was also the model servant, and He showed this attitude to His Disciples. In those days, the roads were dusty, so everyone's feet got very dirty while walking outside. Washing guests' feet was a job for the household servant. But Jesus took on the role of the servant when He wrapped a towel around His waist and proceeded to wash and dry the feet of His Disciples. Verses 3 to 5 of our text show us how this act fit the pattern of Jesus' work here on earth. His rising from the table that night was a symbol of Him leaving Heaven, laying aside His rightful position with the Father so He could become a servant, which is symbolized by Him taking the towel. But His act didn't stop there because as Paul tells us in I Corinthians 6:9-11, Jesus is still "washing people" to this day and will continue to do so until He returns again. You see, the water symbolizes the Word of God as Paul show us in Ephesians 5:25-27. It is God's Word that works to keep us clean every single day.
And then there is impulsive Peter. In verses 6-11 of our text, we see how He told Jesus that he should never wash his feet because he was capable of cleaning himself. But we know how this was a hopeless undertaking for him which he would learn very soon by his own denials. And today we know that it is also impossible for us to clean ourselves. Fearing Jesus' words, Peter then asked in verse 9 that Jesus should then wash his entire body. Another example of how he didn't fully understand the lesson being taught.
Jesus knew Peter didn't need a bath, because only his feet were dirty. If we don't allow Jesus to wash us clean - symbolized in the washing of the feet, we can't have any part of Him because only He can wash away our sins that separate us from God. Our feet get dirty by walking in this dusty world . How we walk is symbolic of how we live our lives. It is how we live that must be cleaned by Jesus. Titus 3:5 tells us that we are "washed" by His blood at the time of salvation. Salvation is given to everyone who accepts Jesus into their life as Savior and Lord. It is the gift given to us by the grace of God.
In verses 12-17 we see the call of Jesus to all Christians. His act of washing His Disciples' feet wasn't just to get them to show greater hospitality to each other. Jesus' goal was for them to continue His mission on earth after He returned to His Father. They were to go out into the world serving God, each other, and all people to whom they would take His message of salvation. He is telling Christians today that we too are to wash one another's feet. This means we are to forgive others, be humble and not proud, and carefully apply to others what we learn from the Bible. Every person we have contact with should be able to see Jesus in us. We should never miss an opportunity to tell them how He saved us from eternal damnation by leaving the glory of Heaven to die for us so that we are now able to live forever in the peace and light that God offers us through Jesus. And, that this gift is available to them as well.
Never forget that when we accept the gift of salvation, like Jesus we are taking on the call to be humble servants to others in this world, to walk a clean life that is an example of how Jesus walked while here, and that it is only through Him and His sacrifice on the Cross that we will stay clean of our sin in the eyes of God.
Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.