PETER'S EMPHATIC "NO": Peter was deeply offended by Christ’s offer because he was still thinking of a traditional power structure.
- John 13:6-10a.
- The disciples were still expecting the inaugural of a traditional kingdom.
- Rome was going to be overthrown, the Jewish nation was going to rise, and the disciples would rule the new power structure with Jesus. That was the only thing they could imagine this ending up as.
- That’s what’s in Peter’s mind as this encounter happens.
- Jesus says He’s going to wash Peter’s feet and Peter responds with an emphatic “no.”
- It was completely unheard of for a superior to wash the feet of an inferior in either Jewish or Roman culture. That’s one reason why Jesus says what He says in v. 7.
- Verse 8 makes it clear just how committed Peter was to the traditional power structure. It makes it clear just how entrenched Peter’s mind is in that traditional power structure.
- Then we shift from outright opposition to confused compromise.
- Jesus pushes back on Peter’s opposition, so Peter tries to move to another tack. It’s also wrong, but in a different way.
- There is, I believe, symbolism happening here. It’s symbolic of salvation. We have been cleansed thoroughly at the moment of salvation, but we do need ongoing regular confession to keep our spiritual focus in place. Thus what Jesus says in v. 10a.
- v. 9 and dirty feet.
- It reminds me of wearing my good tennis shoes to coach softball. I started wearing my mowing shoes because walking around the infield and coaching third base left my good shoes covered in dust. They needed to be washed after each game.
- Walking the dusty roads of Palestine would inevitably lead to dust-caked feet. They would need washed at the end of a long day of travel.
- And, of course, Peter is still thinking of physical things rather than spiritual healing.
WHAT IS JESUS OFFERING INSTEAD? It’s a servant kingdom.
- John 13:4-5, 13-15.
- We are called to be servants of Christ.
- Now, what does this look like?
a. Serving the least.
b. Being humble and not needing praise.
c. Being oblivious to the traditional power structure.
- What does living that way do?
a. It stands out dramatically from business as usual.
b. It touches hearts.
- And transformed hearts are the goal.
c. It opens the door for God to empower small things to make a big impact.
- Does this mean that we should be having foot washings in church on a regular basis?
- I would argue that we don’t. I would also argue that is not a watering down of the passage.
- Some argue here that we are called to regularly have foot washing as a part of church services and that refusing to do that weakens what Jesus is calling us to. I disagree, although I do respect the earnestness of those who do foot washings.
- Verse 15 says you should do “as” I have done, not “what” I have done.
- This does not weaken the teaching – it actually is the harder interpretation. Why? Because in the more limited interpretation, it only impacts one thing I do occasionally in a church service. In the more expansive interpretation, it impacts my entire life – how I treat my family, my co-workers, my neighbors, etc. It calls me to take the lower place, to be a servant, to “wash feet” throughout my day. Making it a rite minimizes it.
- It’s also worth noting that this comes after two chapters of power struggles. Chapter 11 is about Lazarus’ resurrection and the Pharisees’ concerned response about Jesus’ increasing power. Note especially 11:47-48. Chapter 12 includes the Triumphal Entry and that further freaks them out. Note especially 12:42-43. There is a lot more in those two chapters, but that’s a few highlights.
- And then we come to chapter 13. All this talk about power and how does Jesus respond? Insights into how to gain more power? Thoughts on destroying your enemies? No, He washes feet.
- This is a completely new approach to power.
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- This creates a quandary for us.
- Our entire world is centered around getting and maintaining power. This is why the response from the Pharisees to Jesus was so desperate. This is why the response from Peter to Jesus’ statement was so charged. It’s about power.
- And now Jesus is interjecting a completely different approach to power. How can we possibly make such a switch?
- Well, actually, the passage gives us the key. Interestingly, it’s a verse that usually gets overlooked as prelude, but I believe that’s actually central to understanding the passage as a whole. Why? Because it gives us the key to how we can reject the traditional attraction of power.
- It’s verse 3.
- It tells us that Jesus knew that the Father had put all things in His power. (It also tells us that Jesus was confident in His past and His future, but that’s secondary for our purposes tonight.) Or, to put it another way . . .
SO IT'S NOT A KINGDOM OF POWER? The power is granted, not grasped.
- John 13:3, 16-17.
- Almost all the power in the world is grasped. We grab it, we cultivate it, we work hard to maintain it. All of that is seen in the Pharisees’ reaction to Jesus’ increasing popularity. It freaks them out because He’s a threat to their power. Power is grasped and held onto tightly.
- We see similar grasping all around us every day. In the workplace, people trying to grasp power. In family dynamics, people trying to grasp power. In relationships, people trying to grasp power. In politics, people trying to grasp power. In business, companies trying to grasp power. In global politics, countries trying to grasp power. Power is grasped and held onto tightly.
- That’s not true for Jesus. He has no need to grasp for power. This is the most important thing I’m going to say tonight, so pay attention. He has no need to grasp for power.
- Why? Because His power has been granted. Look again at v. 3a. He’s already got it – He’s already go the power. It’s been granted to Him by God the Father.
- He doesn’t have to try to grasp more. He’s already got it.
- He doesn’t have to worry about losing it. It can’t be taken from Him.
- He doesn’t have to be concerned about keeping up appearances and not doing anything like washing feet. His power has been granted and is firmly His.
- His power is granted, not grasped.
- An example.
- Imagine you’re standing outside a concert hall. A couple thousand people are there and the seating is mostly festival seating. People are cued near the doors waiting for them to open so they can rush in and try to get a good seat for the concert. You’re standing there in the crowd, uncomfortable like you’ve been for the last hour. And when the doors are opened, you push your way forward and run to try to get a great seat.
- Now imagine the same scenario, but you have a reserved seat. It doesn’t matter if you’re there two hours early or if you show up one minute before the concert starts – you still get the same great seat. Suddenly there is no need to stand in the crowd, no need to push your way forward, no need to run to get a seat.
- You don’t have to grasp for a seat – a seat has been granted to you. You can relax – you’re secure.
- That is analogous to what we are talking about with Jesus. Jesus has no need to play the power games that those around Him are playing. His power has been granted. They’re jockeying for position. They’re concerned when someone seems to be getting through the concert door first. They’re stabbed by the sight of others flowing down the aisles in front of them, taking seats that they wished they had.
- While they are doing all that, Jesus knows He has a reserved seat. Jesus knows His power has been granted and that no one can take it from Him.
- Do you see how central this is to everything that comes after? Do you see how this allows Jesus to have a completely different view of power than everyone else? Do you see how this means that He doesn’t have to play the power games that everyone else does?
- His power is granted, not grasped, and that changes everything!
- This allows Him to do something like washing the disciples’ feet without any feeling that He is less than He was before. Jesus doesn’t have to worry about losing face or losing power. His power is granted.
- He can be a servant and know that His power is secure. He can wash feet and know His power is secure. It’s a transformative truth.
- What about us? How does this truth impact us?
- Well, the first thing to notice is that we are called to live in a spirit of washing feet. Look at vv. 16-17. So this isn’t just for Jesus. Jesus is an example for us.
- Second, Jesus has put us in a similar situation. Look with me at Matthew 28:18. As part of the Great Commission, Jesus tells His disciples that He holds all power. He then commands them to go forward to share the good news, promising that He will be with them everywhere they go (vv. 19-20). The obvious and unmistakable implication is that we too have granted power going with us because we have Jesus going with us.
- What does that mean for us? Simply that it puts us in the same situation that Jesus is in. We have all the power we need granted to us through Jesus. We have no need to grasp for power.
- I have argued elsewhere that it is clear that we don’t understand this truth when you look at how conservative Christians in America are so consumed with power. We act like we’ve got to work full-time to cultivate and expand our power. No, we don’t. We already have all the power we need granted to us through Jesus. Quit being distracted by things we don’t need!
- Instead, we are free to focus on being servants, on attending to the least of these, on doing things that attract no praise or attention, on losing our life, on carrying our cross, on being on the bottom rung. All that would freak out a person living in the traditional power structure, but we aren’t. We have granted power.
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- Ok, now that we understand that, some of you are thinking, “That sounds nice, but you don’t understand my situation. You don’t know who I’m dealing with. You don’t understand the problem people I’m surrounded by.”
- And I get it – this is hard to live out. It goes against everything we’ve been taught and that we’ve seen lived out before us. And we’ve got people we really don’t want to serve.
- How do we deal with that?
THAT SOUNDS NICE BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND MY SITUATION: Jesus washed Judas’ feet.
- John 13:2, 10b.
- Jesus doesn’t give us this pronouncement in an ivory tower moment, far removed from the vagaries of real life. On the contrary, His betrayer is at the table!
- Verse 2 tells us that Judas is being tempted by Satan to betray. Judas isn’t innocent at this point. The betrayal has started.
- Verse 12 tells us that Jesus washed the feet of all 12.
- And verse 11 tells us that Jesus knew what was going on behind the scenes.
- Still, Jesus washed Judas’ feet. Wow. Think of that.
- The passage doesn’t tell us, but I don’t think that Jesus washed Judas’ feet with gritted teeth and an angry expression. I think Jesus washed Judas’ feet with love and compassion for him.
- So think about the person who is your nemesis, your annoyance – your situation isn’t worse that Jesus’.
- But this transforming truth gives us the ability to serve even in situations like that.
