John 13:1
Jesus knew that His hour had come. Through the preceding chapters, we’ve seen John record that it was not yet His time. They had tried to snatch Jesus. They tried to throw Him off a cliff. People picked up stones to stone Him. But it wasn't the right time, place or means.
"When the servant of God is in the will of God, he is immortal until his work is done." (Warren Wiersbe)
Now, John says, the time had come. His hour had come. This is the time of final farewells. It was time for Him to leave this world and go to the Father, by the way prescribed. The Father revealed the plan to the Son. The Son, responding in obedience submitted to the plan. Knowing that He was going to His death changed nothing.
What would we do differently if we knew we were a few short days from a brutal death?
Jesus loved His own, those who were given to Him, those in the world for which He would die. He loved them to the end. Any other man would respond in self-preservation or at the very least in a way that let everyone know what He was doing for them.
John says Jesus is about to show the ones He loved the full extent of His love.
John 13:2-6
Supper ended. This was often a time of teaching for a Rabbi. The celebration of Passover was in full swing. There is some debate about whether this was the Last Supper or not. John wasn’t concerned with the details. His point was to show Jesus as a humble servant.
The devil had done his work in Judas’ heart. Judas had decided to betray Jesus. Why would he do this? He was chosen by the Lord as a disciple and had served with the Lord for a few years. There are only theories and speculations. Some believe Judas was trying to force Jesus’ hand; to make Him reveal His power and authority and take the throne. In a similar thought, there is some evidence that Judas may have been a Zealot. He may have felt betrayed by Jesus when he came to Jerusalem, was hailed as king, but talked of death instead. The Lord was aware of the unfaithful heart of Judas.
Jesus was comforted and moved only in obedience to the Father. He was not seeking the approval of men. All things were given to Him by the Father. He did not assume a position of being served by the Kingdom He ruled over. Jesus established what kind of a King He was. He laid aside His garments, probably one of the few possessions in His life. It would have marked Him as a rabbi. In removing it, he humbled Himself, making Himself vulnerable, and humble before the others.
Jesus began to wash the feet of the disciples. He knew Judas would betray Him, Peter would deny Him and the others would run away, yet, He served them. A host provided water for guests to was their feet after traveling. Washing someone else’s feet was the work of servants, submissive wives, or children. It was never the work of a prominent rabbi. In His service, Jesus prefigures His death as a suffering servant of Isaiah 53.
The table would have been a triclinium, a U-shaped table, low to the floor. Those around the table would be sitting sideways around the table, reclining on their left side with their feet extended away from the table. Jesus would have been the host, but also the VIP. He would have been seated in the prominent seat. This was not only unexpected, it was shocking!
The feet were considered filthy, even washed feet. Others might wash the feet of someone they loved but not just anyone. The disciples might have reluctantly washed Jesus’ feet but there was no way they would wash the feet of each other. They were worried about who was the greatest among them, not who was the least.
When John the Baptists said Jesus was coming and he wasn't even worthy to loose his sandal strap, he was saying he wasn't even worthy to wash the feet of Jesus. This reflects John's high view of Jesus and the low view of himself.
Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Jesus made his way around the table and finally came to Peter. There is some thought that Peter was sitting on the far-right side of the triclinium which was the lowest place. In the world's eyes, if there was anyone who should be washing feet it would be the lowest among them, Peter. Peter’s response was to become indignant. This was unthinkable, violating age-old cultural boundaries. This was his Lord, the Messiah. He would not allow such a thing. It was below this king to bend at the foot of another man and serve him. There is no way he would allow it. Peter didn't know whether to be offended or brokenhearted; offer his feet or run away.
The foot washing is only seen in John’s gospel.
John 13:7-11
Peter said this would “never” happen. Jesus gently rebuked Peter for being offended. Peter didn’t understand but He would come to know what Jesus was doing. If the Lord didn’t wash Him, He could not have a part in Jesus and His kingdom.
In some ways, every man, woman, and child was represented around that table. Jesus excluded no one in His service. He washed the feet of His betrayer. He washed the feet of one who would deny Him. He washed the feet of the curious and confused. It made no sense to them. One commentator put it this way:
“In making this protest Peter was displaying the pride of unredeemed men and women, who are so confident of their ability to save themselves that they instinctively resist the suggestion that they need divine cleansing” (Tasker, p. 155).
These kinds of things don't make sense in our world either. When we serve like Christ people think it's strange. It doesn't fit. In some places, it is so outside the cultural norms, that people are offended by acts of service and kindness.
Peter relented from His initial offense and asked Jesus to wash all of Him. The foot washing is symbolic of the greater work Jesus would do, the washing away of our sins.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:2)
But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Ritual baths and ritual cleansing were a common part of life as a Jew. They would have all undergone a ceremonial washing in preparation for the feast if this was the Passover meal. They didn’t need a ceremonial washing again, but only their feet. The bigger picture, though, was that Jesus would provide the means for a one-time cleansing of sins. Those cleaned by Jesus were clean.
But not everyone is. Jesus was referring to Judas. Among the disciples of Jesus are those who appear as washed, appear as forgiven, but in reality, have a dark, deceived heart.
After the one-time cleansing of sin by Jesus, one only needs to be washed to remove the debris of the world. First John 1:9 is referred to as the Christian bar of soap: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
John 13:12-17
Jesus modeled humble service, taking the place of the least, though He was without a doubt the greatest among them. The lesson of the teacher came after the action was completed. They were right to call Him teacher and Lord. Jesus identified Himself again with “I Am,” a kind of calling card of Yahweh.
Jesus had set an example for them. If He washed their feet, serving them, how much more should they do the same for each other?
He states the point of His lesson, marking its importance with, “Most assuredly” which is the repeated word, “Amen, amen.” A servant is never greater than the master under whose authority he works. A servant is subservient to the master. He is an agent sent and never exceeds the authority or permission of the one who sent him.
We can't miss the picture here of Jesus taking off His garments, humbling himself, taking a low place among men, and then, when the work is completed, He once again picks up His garments and takes His rightful place. There is a blessing for those who understand and do them.
There are a couple of points to ponder:
- Jesus' willingness to serve was not circumstantial. At that supper, the doom of the cross was nearby. He was never a victim of the cross. He didn’t say, “Woe is me, come serve me, I’m about to die.”
- A disciple must have the heart of a servant.
- However, we saw Mary anoint Him in the previous chapter. He was willing to be served. The unwillingness to be served can be prideful or false humility.
- A disciple must also be willing to be served.
- Jesus served those who would abandon Him. There are no pre-qualifications for our service.
- A disciple willingly serves everyone, equally.
- If we follow Jesus, we have not risen to a place beyond serving the least. To follow Him is to be vulnerable, humble, and willing to wash the feet of the least. Prior faithfulness doesn’t exempt you from serving.
- A disciple doesn’t outgrow service.
- If we follow a servant leader, we should never elevate ourselves above them. The world might mock, scoff, and ridicule a servant, they are showing their heart. They are revealing their foolish trust in the values of the world.
- A disciple maintains their place of service in a hostile culture.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)
This lesson may have been a rebuttal to pride after the disciples had bickered about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus was the greatest, this is the work of the greatest. A leader is a servant. You lead by being an example.
John 13:18-19
The twelve were chosen. However, Judas rejected the Lord’s ways. Someone might say, “Jesus didn’t choose very well, He should have done a better job.” However, we see the calling go to the hard-hearted and rebellious. And He loved Him to the end.
This was the fulfillment of scripture. Jesus quoted Psalm 41, a Psalm of the suffering of the godly.
Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9)
Jesus speaks of suffering of another kind at the hands of those He loved and served. To eat bread together at a table was a sign of friendship and fellowship. It spoke of loyalty. We can see an example of this in 2 Samuel 9:7,13 when David allowed Mephibosheth to eat bread at his table. The plot of betrayal was a bitter betrayal of a friend. It was disloyalty.
For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.
But it was you, a man my equal,
My companion and my acquaintance.
We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God in the throng. (Psalm 55:12-14)
Barclay captured this particularly well.
There is all the poignant sorrow in the world when a friend is guilty of such heartbreaking disloyalty. The very phrase that is used is full of cruelty. ‘He lifted up his heel against me.’ Literally the Hebrew is, ‘He made great the heel’, and it is a phrase which describes ‘brutal violence’. In this passage, there is no hint of anger, only of sorrow; Jesus, with a last appeal, is revealing the wound upon his heart to Judas.
Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of John (Vol. 2, p. 167). Edinburgh.
The disciples were about to be shocked when they found out what Jesus already knew. One of their own would sell Jesus out. The feet Jesus washed would carry Him to the Jewish leaders who would arrest Him. The heel Jesus washed would be lifted up against Him.
He presented this ahead of time so that later they would come to further realize that He is their Messiah, He is God the Son.
John 13:20
The “most assuredly” is the repeated “amen, amen” we’ve seen numerous times. It’s a marker in John’s gospel to show Jesus was about to present something important.
Who was Jesus sending? He was sending those humble servant foot washers. Those receiving them received Jesus. Those who received Jesus received the Father who sent Him.
What did this say about Judas? Judas may have been operating on what he thought was some religious principle, some service to God through the Chief Priest and those who wanted to arrest Jesus. In not receiving Jesus, Judas had rejected God.
John 13:21-22
Jesus was troubled in His spirit. The weight of sin was looming before Him. The pain, sorrow, and loneliness of the cross were before Him. The “lifting of the heel” by one of His own was just the beginning. The Shepherd would be struck and all the sheep would scatter.
Matthew recorded all the disciples asking, "Lord, is it I?" Every one of them knew they had the capacity to betray and deny Jesus. This is telling. These men walked with Jesus and saw people healed, and raised from the dead. Blind men could see, the lepers were made new and given a life. If sin could drive these men to betrayal and denial, then we should not consider ourselves exempt.
John 13:23-26
The disciple whom Jesus loved is most likely John. Lazarus was called this in 11:3 but it was noted at the beginning of the chapter that he loved them to the end. In 21:24 we see this is the title the author gave himself. Again, this is presumably John, though some argue for another.
Judas was to the left of Jesus; this was the seat of honor. John (or the other disciple Jesus loved) was on the right. Peter told John to ask Jesus who it was. Peter probably didn’t ask the Lord himself because he wanted John to whisper it to Jesus, to get the inside scoop from the Lord.
To dip the bread in the sauce and give it to another was an act of friendship. This was how you blessed someone and showed them honor as you sat around the table. This is something anyone could or would do to show their love to another. Jesus blessed Judas and showed him honor with the full knowledge that Judas would betray Him.
John 13:27-30
Satan entered Judas. We don't know what form this took. This wasn’t demon possession; this was Satan himself. Yet, Judas was still responsible for his actions. Jesus was still in control and commanded Satan to do his evil bidding quickly. No one understood why Jesus said that. They thought Jesus had sent him to buy something or provide for the poor. It all seemed very normal to the others.
When Judas had taken the bread, he left and went out into the night. It was night. It was dark. Jesus had said He was the light but the dark was coming. The spiritual darkness was prevalent.
Judas permanently entered into the darkness. It's recorded in Matthew that Jesus said it would have been better for Judas if he had never been born.
At the end of the Temptation of Jesus, Luke records that the devil ended every temptation and departed until an opportune time. Judas provided that opportune time for Satan to lead him to betrayal, beginning the process that would lead to crucifixion. Satan must have been very happy.
John 13:31-35
Judas leaving the room is the beginning of the end. Jesus began to prepare the disciples for what was about to happen. They would be separated from Him but would follow him later. What a great promise.
Jesus would be glorified on the cross, lifted up, but not exalted until later. God would be glorified in the obedience of the Son, even death on the cross. The glorifying of the Son by the Father who was glorified is likely a reference to the resurrection, ascension, and taking His place at the right hand of the Father.
The students of the teacher were often called little children. Time was short. The disciples could not follow Him to death. This was something only Jesus could do. The commandment is not a new one, but an old commandment that is further defined. It’s a new understanding of the standard. They were commanded to love as the Son of God had loved them, like a servant, even unto death. This kind of love will mark us as disciples of Jesus Christ.
John 13:36-38
Peter, often the spokesman of the others, asked where the Lord was going. They didn’t understand His death and probably had not yet accepted that it was about to happen. Jesus again said that they couldn’t follow, but they would later. Peter would die for his faith at a later time.
This wasn’t good enough for Peter. He thought he was faithful enough to die for Jesus. He didn’t understand that death was where Jesus was going. Jesus affirmed that he would lay down his life for Jesus. Maybe for an instant, Peter experienced a proud moment. Then Jesus led off with an “amen, amen” to predict he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.
And now, the stage is set for the final act of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
©2005, 2009, 2013, 2023 Doug Ford
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