Have any of you tried a fried blooming onion? They taste great. If you haven’t had one - they cut open a sweet Vidalia onion and dip it in batter and deep fry it and all the layers spread out. You are probably wondering why I am talking about onions and making everyone hungry; it is because onions have layers and the story, we are looking at today, has layers of understanding and truth revealed through each layer. Please turn to John 13.
I. Layer one – a simple truth – how much Jesus loves you
John is the only gospel writer to share with us this story of Jesus washing the Apostle’s feet. It takes place on Thursday night of Holy Week. The Twelve Apostles and Jesus were going to share the Passover meal together. We are told in Luke 22:7-13 how the preparations were made for this very significant meal in the Jewish faith as they remember the miracle of God delivering His people from the Egyptians.
John 13:2 begins “the evening meal was being served” then we have lots of footnotes of what was going on and finally in verse 4 John finishes the sentence “so He got up from the meal and took off His outer clothing …” There was something that normally happened when you entered a Jewish person’s home at this time in history that didn’t happen - a servant would wash people’s feet. This did not happen here because they were in a borrowed room - we call the Upper Room. Since none of the Apostles felt it was his place to wash the other Apostle’s feet, and they were of a higher class than servants, Jesus set the example and did it to His Apostles.
You may remember the story in Luke 7:36-50 Jesus was in the home of Simon the Pharisee. Simeon failed to give to Jesus the common courtesy of having Jesus’ feet washed, but a scarlet woman came into his home and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair as an act of worship.
Why did Jesus wash His disciple’s feet?
1. To follow Jewish custom.
2. Second, people’s feet get dirty and smelly and it is good hygiene to have clean feet when eating. Jewish customs for eating around a table were different than ours. Instead of sitting at a table with chairs as we do, the custom then was to recline on pillows with your head and hands near the table and feet extended out. This way Jesus could easily reach or had access to the feet of the disciples. According to the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci it shows Jesus and His disciples sitting at a table. As wonderful as his painting is, it is inaccurate at this point.
3. The third and more important reason Jesus washed His disciple’s feet, is to show them how much He loved them. In verse 1 John shares with us Jesus wanted to show the “full extent” of His love to the Apostles. Most translations have “He loved them to the end”. Does that mean, loved them to the end of His earthly life? To the end of eternity? The Greek word translated “end” can also be translated “complete or fully”. I like the 1978 NIV emphasizing how He loved them – “the full extent of His love”!
From all we can tell, Jesus spent almost every moment of about three years with these 12 men. He knew their strengths and faults and yet He loved them completely. Jesus also loves you and me even with our warts, shattered dreams and brokenness. I call this first layer of the onion illustration – a simple truth how much Jesus loved them. It was love not in words, but through action. This is how we ought to love Jesus as well. Jesus loved these disciples so much He humbled Himself to wash their feet.
Application - How will you show the full extent of your love to others? Wash dishes? Rake the leaves? Some other way.
How will you show the full extent of your love to Jesus? Witness to someone about your faith in Jesus? Begin tithing? Go on a mission trip? Something else?
II. Layer two – have fellowship with Me
Let’s peel back another layer of the onion. I was originally drawn to this passage because of the conversation between Jesus and Peter. I wanted to understand the deeper meaning of what was being said here. I have learned that and much more.
John 13:6 begins “He came to Peter.” As Jesus began washing the feet of the Apostles He came to Peter in the rotation. One scholar speculated that John was first to have his feet washed and John allowed it as an act of Jesus loving him and his love for Jesus flowed back. Remember that John refers to himself six times in his gospel account as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”.
However, rough and tuff Peter was not into touchy and feely things. Peter’s question is on the edge of being a rebuke “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus explains to Peter, verse 7, that he did not understand what Jesus was doing but that he would later.
Even though Peter didn’t understand it, he refused to allow Jesus to humble Himself to a servant role and wash his feet. Verse 8 gives us the strong words of Peter “You shall never wash my feet”! Our English language has trouble giving the full impact of the Greek in this verse. The Berkley translation gets close:
Berkley – “You shall never, never wash my feet!”
I have heard some churches have taken foot washing and made it a church ordinance such as we do baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They have a foot washing service on a regular basis. That is fine if they want to do that, but I don’t see Jesus instructing us to make this an ordinance.
Only once have I participated in a foot washing service. We were on a Pastor’s and Wives retreat in New England. Those leading the event washed our feet and would not allow us to do that in return. I would have been more comfortable doing the washing than receiving it. However, it was a meaningful experience. There is humility in doing the washing and another kind of humility is receiving the washing.
Because of that experience I can understand Peter uncomfortableness with Jesus washing his feet. However, there is more here than meets the eye. The reply of Jesus in verse 8 moves this experience to a mutual fellowship “unless I wash you, you have no part with Me”. Jesus told Peter if He didn’t wash his feet - you have no part or share with Me. When Jesus raised the bar and made this foot washing about fellowship and relationship – then Peter changed his attitude very quickly! Peter wanted his relationship with Jesus to be all it could be so he responds to Jesus in verse 9 “Then Lord not just my feet, but hands and head as well.” Essentially, wash all of me if that is how I can be closer to you! Don’t you love Peter’s passion!
Application: When you came to church this morning did you come with a mindset of “I will give Jesus a couple of hours of my time, but that’s all”. You are giving to Jesus a little bit of yourself. I am moved by Peter’s heart for Jesus – not just my feet, but wash all of me! I urge you today to give Jesus all of yourself in worship and in service. Is there any area of your life you are holding back on from Jesus? Give it to Jesus! Let Him have all of you.
III. Layer three – serve one another
Let’s peal back this onion a third time and see another layer of truth presented here. Move to verse 12. READ 12 – 17.
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
After Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, He explained to them why He had done it. Although the leader of the group, Jesus set the example by serving others; we should look for ways to serve the people in our church family and the people in the community. Most of us would nod our heads in agreement that would be a good thing for us to do – serve one another. However, will we take the time to do it? Will we make the effort?
We are blessed that we also have Luke’s gospel account. It gives us another dimension of this teaching on foot-washing. Place your bulletin in John 13 and turn to Luke 22:24 - 27 READ.
24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
The Apostles of Jesus had been arguing among themselves which one of them would be the greatest when Jesus sets up His earthly kingdom. They were confused and still didn’t understand that Jesus was not going to lead a revolution against the Romans and set up a political kingdom.
Jesus knew they had this argument and that these Apostles hearts and attitudes were probably still on that subject while eating the Passover meal. What did Jesus see when He looked across that room? Proud hearts and dirty feet.
By His washing their feet Jesus showed them humility. Earthly kingdoms are all about title and position. The Kingdom of God is about humble service. Those who are the greatest in the Kingdom of God are those who serve rather than those who have the highest position of honor. These Apostles were unwilling to humble themselves and wash each other’s feet – but Jesus was willing to do it.
Application: Is there someone at work or a neighbor or even in church, who you should humble yourself to serve in some way?
John 13:17 teaches us what will happen to us if we do the things of God – we will be blessed!
IV. Layer four – you do not understand this now
Let’s pull back the layer of the onion one last time. I want to come back to the statement of Jesus in verse 7 that Peter did not understand what Jesus was doing then, but later he would.
What did Peter come to understand later?
• Beyond receiving the full extent of His love
• Beyond the humility to serve one another
• Beyond sharing a part with me in fellowship and relationship
Peter came to understand the humility of Jesus would go even deeper than washing feet. Jesus humbled Himself to die on the cross for the sins of the world.
Peter finally got it! We hear Peter on the day of Pentecost preaching this truth. Turn to Acts 2:32, 33 READ.
32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
What did Peter come to understand in the Upper Room? A humble leader teaching His disciples to serve one another. By the time of the Pentecost, who did Peter see Jesus become? Verse 33 one who was “exalted to the right hand of God”. Rather than kneeling and serving, Jesus was exalted!
Further in verse 36 Peter said one whom the Lord God made “Lord and Christ”! The humble teacher – revealed His glory in the resurrection and now Peter could boldly proclaim Jesus is Lord and Christ!
Peter thought he knew all about Jesus, but there was so much more to learn and understand. May God help each of us grow in our awareness of Jesus’ glory!
Conclusion:
Let me close with this story, questions about God’s existence often troubles H. A. Hodges a brilliant young professor at Oxford University. He was a professor of philosophy and had studied all the great philosophers and world religions and but couldn’t commit himself to anyone of them.
One day as he strolled down the street, he passed by an art store. His attention was gripped by a simple picture in the window. It showed Jesus kneeling to wash His disciple’s feet. He had read the Bible as a text book, and was familiar with the story. Suddenly, the sheer meaning of that scene gripped his heart. God! The God who created the universe! Had come to earth and humbled Himself to do the lowliest of tasks! If God is like that, then that God shall be my God! He surrendered his heart and life to follow the foot washing God!
(Dennis Davidson sermoncentral.com)
What about you?
Do you follow the God who was willing to humble Himself to wash His disciple’s feet?
Do as Peter did and let Him wash all of you in a complete surrender of yourself to Him and His ways.
Prayer
