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Jesus washes his disciples’ feet

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

John’s Gospel chapters 1 through 12 chronicle Jesus’ three-year public ministry. But chapters 13 through 20 describe only three days of Jesus’ private ministry. The Last Supper took place on Thursday night and its theme was love. Jesus demonstrates this love by personally washing his disciples’ feet. The act is symbolic of spiritual cleansing as well as a model of the attitude believers are to have toward one another. I pray that God may bless us so that we may have the humble attitude of washing one another’s feet.

It was just before the Passover Feast, the day before crucifixion. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Jesus knew that he would die the next day. Jesus also knew that one of his disciples would betray and sell him to the religious leaders. He was also aware that his top disciple, Peter, would deny and disown him, and that all his disciples would run away from him. The time was dark, gloomy and painful. Humanly speaking, it must have been an unbearable situation.

In that painful situation, what did Jesus do? Verse 1b says, “Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” Instead of hiding himself in a closet, Jesus loved his own disciples. When a person faces a painful situation, his natural reaction is to complain or become angry. But Jesus was different. Instead of becoming angry at his disciples or complaining to God the Father, Jesus loved his disciples to the full extent.

How could Jesus love them, showing the full extent of his love, in the midst of betrayal, denial and impending death? Someone said, “Knowledge brings about troubles, but ignorance is virtue.” In some sense it is true. If Jesus hadn’t known about Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and his disciples’ abandonment, he would have been in less pain. But I would say, “Real knowledge brings about peace and love.” Here, real knowledge is the knowledge of one’s destiny. John, the author wrote twice about Jesus’ knowledge of his own destiny in verses 1 and 3, which say, “Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.” Jesus knew that his destiny was to go to the Father in heaven, the better place. John wrote “Father,” instead of God. Jesus knew that going to the Father was such a delightful experience, because he had possessed an intimate knowledge of his Father. Jesus knew that the place he would go would be glorious and fantastic, because the Father was there. Because of his knowledge of his destiny, he was secure in the midst of pains, troubles and even death.

Let me ask you a question. What is your destiny? Do you know your own destiny? Many Christians believe in their own destiny, saying, “Yah, I will be with God in heaven.” But the question is not do you believe but do you know your own destiny? Believing in one’s own destiny without knowledge is premature and vague. But knowing one’s own destiny with faith is clear and concrete, because knowledge gives concrete information. Jesus knew how good and how glorious it was to be with God the Father in heaven, because He had an intimate knowledge of the Father in heaven. Do you have an “intimate,” not general, knowledge of the Father in heaven? Many Christians have a general, not an intimate, knowledge of the Father, even though they are sons and daughters of God in heaven. A general knowledge of the Father comes from Bible study, but the intimate knowledge of the Father comes from intimacy with the Father in prayer. If we have the intimate knowledge of the Father through prayer, we will concretely know our destiny. If we have concrete knowledge of our destiny, our attitude toward life on earth will be different. We will have genuine love toward people; we will live in peace without anxiety and fear; we will live in joy. Because Jesus had a concrete knowledge of his destiny, he could love his disciples with the full extent of his love.

Being assured of his own destiny, Jesus loved his own who were in the world, showing them the full extent of his love. Jesus knew that he would go to a better place, heaven, but his disciples would stay in the worst place, the world where the Devil rules with sin, sickness, pain and death. Realizing that his disciples would remain in the dark and sin-sick world, Jesus had compassion on his disciples; so he showed them the full extent of his love. What does it mean “the full extent of his love”? It means that Jesus showed them the full size and scale of his love. Just several days before, Mary showed the full extent of her love for her Master. Intuitively realizing that her Master Jesus would die soon, Mary poured out the full extent of her love on Jesus by pouring out her expensive pure nard perfume on Jesus’ feet. She poured out 100% of all her love. Similarly, Jesus poured out 100% of all his love on his disciples, not leaving even one ounce of love in her heart
How did Jesus show the full extent of his love? Verse 2-5 says, “The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” Jesus showed them the full extent of his love by washing their feet with his hands. Washing feet is a servant’s job. Since the meeting was intended to be secret, no servants were present. None of the disciples was ready to volunteer for such a task, for each disciple considered himself greater than others. Jesus knew that there was a competitive spirit in the hearts of his disciples. So sometime during the meal Jesus rose, removed his outer cloak, tied a towel around his waist, and began to perform the work of the servant who was not present.
Verse 3 says that the Father had put all things under Jesus power; literally in his hands. Jesus knew that all power was put in his hands. Usually when power is given to a person, the person tends to become authoritative, abusing his authority and squeezing his opponent’s neck with his hands. Jesus knew that all power was put in his hands. Jesus got power in his hands. So he could squeeze Judas’ neck with his mighty hand. But he didn’t. Rather, Jesus, the Holy Son of God, washed his disciples’ dirty feet with his holy hands. His disciples should have washed their Master’s feet. But Jesus, the Son of God, picked up a towel with his hands and washed their feet, becoming their servant. Jesus’ acts reminds us of Phil 2:5-7, “Christ Jesus who, being, in very nature, God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”

Why did Jesus wash their dirty feet? What is the meaning of washing their feet? It is Jesus’ act of love for his disciples, saying that I still love you and I forgive you. Jesus knew that his beloved disciple Judas would betray him, lifting up his heel against him (Jn 13:18). But Jesus still forgave him by washing his betraying heel, saying “Judas, I know you will betray me; but I still love you and forgive you. That is why I am washing your feet.” Jesus knew that his beloved disciples would all abandon him. But Jesus still forgave them by washing their dirty feet one by one, saying, “Matthew, I know you will abandon me; but I still love you and forgive you. Thomas, I know you will abandon me; but I still love you and forgive you. That is why I am washing your feet.” Jesus demonstrated for them the full extent of his love, showing full attention to each person one by one. Judas didn’t deserve forgiveness. His disciples didn’t deserve forgiveness. But Jesus forgave them. Here we learn one truth that forgiveness is the best expression of love, because forgiveness is the most difficult thing to do to the most unlovable person. When someone after getting all our love and benefits betray us, hatred arises from our heart. It was right for Jesus to take revenge, not to forgive, Judas. It was right for Jesus to rebuke, not to forgive his disciples. But Jesus didn’t take revenge nor rebuke them. Rather he forgave them. How could Jesus forgive them? Jesus could forgive them because Jesus had the full extent of his love. The full extent of love drives out hatred, just as the perfect love drives out fear.

Then, how can we have the full extent of love? We can have the full extent of love in our heart, first when we admit that we don’t have love at all in our heart. When we admit this fact, then second, we don’t look into our heart but look out for help from God and ask God to give us love. God is Love. Love is God’s nature, God’s character and God’s heart. Love is God’s language, God’s voice and God’s Word. Love comes from God. There is no one but God who can give us love. 1Jn 4:16b says, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us.” 2Tim 1:7 says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-disciples.” Rom 5:5b also says, “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Gal 5:22 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” We fail to have love because we try to get love from men. Love comes only from God. We cannot obtain love without knowing God through Bible study. We cannot obtain the full extent of love without intimately knowing God in prayer. When we become close to God, we intimately know God. When we intimately know God, we love God more. When we love God more, God pours out His love into our heart. The amount of love we receive totally depends on how close we are with God. When we receive His love without limit through an intimacy with Him, we will have the full extent of love that drives out hatred. Then we can truly love people. We can truly love our spouse, our children, coworkers, and even the most unlovable person. I pray that God may help us to have an intimacy with Him so that we may be filled with love without limit that drives out hatred.
Jesus came to Simon Peter to wash his feet. But Peter said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No, you shall never wash my feet.” Never! Peter said. Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well.” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

Feet are the lowest part of the body. Due to their position people ignore feet. Feet are also very stinky and dirty due to sweat, dirt and germs in between toes. So feet are considered an unpleasant or inglorious part of the body (except for soccer players’ feet). Feet are also the only part of the body that contacts the dust of the ground and constantly becomes dirty. In those days people visited public baths to bathe. Then a man would put on his sandals to come home. In his home was a basin of water for him to wash his feet because they had gotten dirty walking through the streets of the city. So even though he had just come from a bath, he had to wash his feet when he entered the house.

Jesus said that a person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. Because of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross our whole body is entirely bathed by the blood of Jesus once for all. By the Blood of Jesus we are clean. We don’t need to take a bath anymore. It is a settled matter that no one can change. But we need to wash our feet every single day because our feet constantly become dirty, as we walk on the ground. It means we need to come to Jesus, confessing our sins in repentance so that Christ may wash our dirty feet. If we don’t allow Christ to wash our feet but hide it, we will be stinky and dirty Christians. If we hide our dirty feet, the dirt piles up; sweat spread out; and germs grow up in between toes so that feet become cracked and infected with fungus. This is exactly what happened to my feet. When I was in high school, I borrowed my friend’s shoes for my gym class. I put his shoes on my feet, not knowing that my friend had fungus. Several days after gym class my feet began to itch. I got fungus in my feet. But the problem was that I didn’t take care of it well. I just ignored it over time, thinking that it was not a major problem. But the real problem occurred after 5 years. The fungus penetrated into my toe nails so that my toe nails became really gross, thick and twisted with a dark yellow color. If I don’t cut my toe nails on time, they become like monster nails. My children run away as soon as they see them. Not only that, my feet had a lot of cracks, peeling of skin, and rashes. It was all because I hid my feet. Imagine how gross our spiritual feet would be if we didn’t allow Christ to wash our feet. Therefore, daily confession of our sin to God is a very crucial thing to do. If we ignore it, we will be in big trouble. But if we confess our sin every day, Christ will wash our dirty feet as 1Jn 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” And we will have a holy walk, walking in the light. 1Jn 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” I pray that each of us may confess our sins daily so that we may walk in the light.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher and Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Jesus commanded us to wash one another’s feet as he has done for us. Why do we have to wash one another’s feet? Isn’t it enough for Jesus alone to wash our feet? We don’t want to show our dirty feet to others. But Jesus said, “You also should wash one another’s feet.” What does it mean to wash one another’s feet? It means to forgive one another. We are a community, the body of Christ where forgiven sinners get together by grace. Since we are forgiven sinners, we cannot avoid sinning against others as long as we live in community, because by its nature sin is relational. Sin is unavoidable. Therefore, forgiveness is an indispensable element for the community. Without it the community cannot stand on its own. If we don’t wash others’ feet by forgiving them, there will be hurt, bitterness, hatred, indifference and finally division in community. Let’s say that someone speaks badly about me to others. His dirty feet are his evil tongue. If I don’t wash his feet by forgiving his evil tongue, but rather hold a grudge against him, I already build a barrier against him. Then, there is no flow of love energy between him and me. If another person holds a grudge against another, then, there is also another barrier in between them. In this case, the community is sick with sin and cannot grow in love, because there is a blockage of the love flow. When blood circulation stops flowing into leg, the leg begins to rot, and eventually the leg has to be amputated. Then the person has a deformed body. Likewise if we don’t wash one another’s feet, we will have a deformed body of Christ. Washing one another’s feet means forgiving one another so that the love energy may flow into each relationship and spread into the entire body of Christ. Forgiveness breaks the barriers between people. Forgiveness breaks the wall of hostility. Forgiveness opens the channel of love into each person. Forgiveness allows the love energy to flow into the whole body of Christ.

But someone may say,” I cannot forgive that person. He doesn’t deserve my forgiveness, because he really hurt me.” Yes, washing his dirty feet by forgiving him is very hard. It is like changing a baby’s diaper. It smells really bad and it is very painful. But we should remember that our feet also smell really bad; it is really offensive, yet our Lord, Jesus washed our dirty and smelly feet. Without his forgiveness we cannot be where we are now. Jesus also commanded, “You should wash one another’s feet as I have done for you.” Judas didn’t deserve forgiveness, yet my Lord Jesus still forgave him. Not only Judas but we also don’t deserve forgiveness, yet our Lord still forgave us. So we have to wash that person’s feet by forgiving him. Col 3:12-14 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” James 5:16 also says, “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” If sin is not confessed or forgiven, but hidden in the community, sin gains its own power, growing, spreading like cancer into community and destroying community. But when the sin is confessed and forgiven, sin loses its own power and dies down. And we build a beautiful community of Christ. We need to be humble and mature enough to confess our sins in public as well as in private and to be forgiven. We need to wash others’ feet and be washed by others. It requires humility and maturity. I pray that we may build such a beautiful community in our church through humility and maturity. I pray that Friday meeting may be the meeting where we can freely and humbly confess our sins and be forgiven. May God help us to confess our sins during the Friday meeting. May God help us to wash one another’s feet by forgiving each other this fall semester. In this way, we may build a beautiful community in our church where love energy flows into each relationship and flow into the whole community.