Washing Feet: The Humility And Grace Of Jesus Series

Title: Wet Feet

Theme: A message about Christ’s humility and grace shown in foot washing.

Text: John 13:1 – 13

Note: I had 12 chairs stretched across the stage. I taped signs on them. The tape was long enough to flip to the back side. As I was speaking about Jesus showing grace I would turn a sign over. I used words like: thief, betrayer, adulterer, denier, doubter, faithlessness, sinner, failure, backslider, incompetent, selfish, murderer

Introduction

You could hear the room get louder, especially as each disciple entered in. As the crowd of 12 grew you could imagine them each jockeying for the most important position.

This was common debate among the disciples. So much that John and James had their own mother approach Jesus and petition Him to set her sons up in the most prominent place. The right and the left of Him when He comes to His kingdom.

It not hard to imagine the scene as they would come in, maybe even arriving early to the “best seat”. Well you know where John was to sit, beside Jesus, he was the closest. Then there was Peter and James. They were on the on the mountain with Jesus when the cloud covered, and they met Moses and Elijah. Surly they would have a good position. Then you have Andrew. Where would Peter be without Andrew, for he is the one who introduced Peter to Jesus. Phillip was kind of like the spokesperson. People would come to him for request and Phillip would relay the message. Then there was Judas. He was the treasure. And on and on it went. Until finally the “last” one is seated. This was how it went.

In the all the hoopla of position they missed something. Over in the corner set a basin with water. They overlooked this. Here they had entered into this sacred moment with dirty feet. They had missed the ritual of washing feet. Maybe distracted. Maybe afraid they would lose their seat. But they sat at the table with dirty feet.

I mean have you ever been to an event and got the best seat in the house so you don’t want to leave afraid someone may take it. I have been there. Even to the fact of having to use the restroom but not wanting to get up in fear of missing my seat. I sat miserably at the game or concert not wanting to get up.

What they missed was the little pan and water in the corner. But Jesus didn’t.

Jesus washes the disciple’s feet.

So they watched as Jesus strolls past them. Not sitting. Not really fellowshipping, coming in at the last minute. He walks over to the basin and the water. Picks up the pail and begins. Each person, each foot. The dirt, the grime begins to fall off. This Jesus, their leader was washing feet.

This was such a shock to them. Enough to cause Peter to challenge Him.

Joh 13:6-9 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?"

I believe Peter was thinking in the back of his mind, “If I had only knew. I would have done this.” Why didn’t Jesus tell me? He could have sent me a head.”

(7) Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." (8) Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." (9) Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"

There are many lessons we can learn from this story but I want to focus on two.

Two Lessons of the Story

True Humility

Joh 13:12-13 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? (13) You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.

Christ, their leader, Christ, their God. Christ, their Messiah. Knelt down and washed feet. This was for those lower in the ranks. The less noticed. Yet Jesus showed them true humility. This has always been a characteristic of Jesus. From the beginning:

Philippians 2:5-8 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.