LEARNING DAILY

John 13:3-5, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, arose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

 Chapters 13-17 of John’s gospel make up a major address or teaching of Jesus it has been titled The Upper Room Discourse. “The five chapters that make up The Upper Room Discourse focus on Jesus’ love for His own and His desire to communicate that love so that it would never be forgotten after His return to heaven” (David Jeremiah Study Bible notes). Verse 1 tells us, “Jesus knew His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” This verse expresses the love of Jesus for His disciples and explains the basis for what He is about to do and say to them. Over the next days, I want to encourage Believers to know that Jesus loves you more than you realize!

Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. Yes, it surprised them because this task was usually done by someone of the lowest status; it is an act of servitude and humility. Most of you have worn sandals of some type and know your feet can get dirty; washing them is a necessity. Usually, people of this time would wash their own feet. When one was at another’s home, the washing of feet of someone who had a higher status, was done by a servant of the homeowner. It was ridiculous for this time period for the master of the house to do the foot washing.

What was the point of Jesus doing this? He did this to show a living example of servanthood and humility. If serving others in this fashion is not beneath the Son of God, it should not be beneath those who follow Him to serve others. Perhaps Jesus was expressing the need for the disciples to walk in humility. In the past they had argued over who should be seated next to Jesus in His kingdom and had been almost prideful over the fact that the demons had been subject to their commands. Perhaps he was demonstrating what true leadership really was to be. Further on, Jesus tells them that they are right – He is the Teacher and Lord – yet He acts in humility. He tells them that they are not greater than Him, so they are not above serving others.

Of course, Peter speaks up because he is shocked at Jesus doing this. Peter misunderstands the intentions of Jesus and what He is trying to show them. Jesus is trying to visually show them what walking in humility is. Peter is pretty hardheaded, and it takes him several times to get what Jesus is doing or teaching. But Peter will eventually write, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed in humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’.” Peter needed to come to an understanding of what Jesus was teaching in order for him to walk in humility and serve others.

In verse 12, Jesus asks the disciples if they know what He has done to them. I ask do you understand what Jesus is teaching you, today? The point of what Jesus did is not that you have to literally wash the feet of others. No! The point is that you and I are not above the Master. If He acts in love toward others, you and I must do the same; its an attitude of humility and self-sacrifice that we are to walk in. No Believer is “so big”, so spiritually above another that he/she cannot love and serve others! No Believer has the right to look down on serving others, thinking that serving is beneath him/her.

Are you ready to wash some feet?