Why did Jesus get up from supper to wash the disciples’ feet? If I’m being honest, I think I would have previously explained that He was being an example for us on servant leadership. We often see this ceremony repeated at weddings between a bride and groom. It is sometimes used as an illustration for running a successful business. As Christians, we talk about Christ being the head of the church as a servant-leader. And that all would be partially true. In fact, Jesus does give the disciples practical instructions to repeat this practice and heart posture (John 13:14–17). However, I think if we only see the foot-washing story as a practical application for relationships and business, we have missed an essential attribute of God: His righteousness.
In verses 3–4, John pulls back the curtain on Jesus’s motives: “Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. So he got up from supper…”
It doesn’t say that there was no other servant to wash the feet and that is why he got up from supper. It doesn’t say that the disciples were arguing about who should smell the stinky sandals, so in exasperation, he got up from supper. Rather, Jesus was meditating on Calvary, so he got up from supper.
Through washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus metaphorically showed what the cross was about to accomplish for us: He imparts His cleansing righteousness to the filthiest parts of us.
When our thought life disparages our best friend in moments of judgment or our tongues cut at our spouse’s vulnerability. When our deepest sin and shame bubble to the surface of our consciousness. Past, present, and future, Jesus stoops down. Dirty water washes over a heart of stone to reveal a heart of clean flesh.
Peter was tempted in the same way we are often tempted (vv.6–9). “Jesus, I need you for some things, but this right here? I got it. I can handle it on my own.” Jesus doesn’t commend Peter for his self-sufficiency or pat him on the back for his resilience. He gently but firmly corrects him, “‘If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me’” (v.8).
Let us daily examine our lives to uncover where we are still hoarding idols in the shadowy, cobwebbed corners of our heart. But when we fail, let us be like King David, a man after God’s own heart, who repented of adultery and murder and understood his need for forgiveness:
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
—Psalm 51:7
We rest in the promise that You will love us to the very end.
I too can have a sharp tongue, and mostly with my husband. I “try” to not react but it doesn’t seem to work! I want to be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to anger. It’s usually the opposite. Lord forgive me and thank you Jesus for cleansing me of my unrighteousness
@Taylor my pastor preached something similar to this as well and I thought it was a really neat sermon – basically how on Palm Sunday Jesus came in peacefully on a donkey while most thought he would come overthrow the government and become the leader then and there.. this goes to show so much about who Jesus is. We may not always think how He does, but we must trust and know His way is the best. I enjoyed this devotional and thought it shared a way of looking at this story in a different way than I typically do.
Sharing a praise – since moving to my new town I haven’t made a ton of friends so lately I have been praying that God leads me to a good group of friends who will lead me closer to Him and then today leaving the gym two people invited me to dinner with them and we had a great time! So thankful for a God who listens and cares.
Praying for all of the requests.
Something I’ve missed before. In verse 4, Jesus “got up from the meal…” to wash their feet. Not when they entered to keep the house clean, not to purify before eating, but either during or after the meal. This seems like strange timing. Does anyone have any insight on this?
Maybe he was giving one of the disciples time to do it. It was a physical need they all knew about. Jesus was showing love in action. He was also demonstrating his action on the cross, as the d votional today
Praying for your sister x
Dorothy, I think Kasey was giving examples of our lives where Jesus can wash us clean e.g. when we have unkind thoughts about a best friend or we say something unsupportive to our spouse. These are the times when Jesus stoops down to cleanse us.
Your devotion sounds great.
Dorothy, I think Kasey was giving examples of our lives where Jesus can wash us clean e.g. when we have unkind thoughts about a best friend or we say something unsupportive to our spouse. These are the times when Jesus stoops down to cleanse us.
I pray that I would walk in the righteousness and true identity that I have in Jesus. We can find our identity in so many things, and I pray I would find it in Jesus.
I agree with TINA. I have goosebumps and tingling on my limbs reading this. So much undeserved love for us. I confess that I struggle with the way some are thinking these days. I judge. I live in an area that is very liberal in thinking. We had transgenders lay in our downtown square as if they were dead from people not accepting them. I struggle with how to show love and not seem as if I’m condoning behavior that doesn’t aline with God’s. BUT I am so imperfect and don’t align with God perfectly either. oof I need to be on my knees…
Thank you for praying for my little Stella. She is a bit better, but her gait is off.