Clean Feet, Humble Hearts
John 13:1–17
Introduction?
R.C. Sproul said, “Imagine: Jesus strips to a loincloth, grabs a servant's towel, and scrubs feet caked in Jerusalem filth—including Judas'. That's your King redefining glory.”
Today, we will spend some time in John 13, hearing a call to discipleship that is unexpected and shocking. No matter how often we imagine King Jesus washing the filthy feet of the disciples, it is astounding.
John 13:1 tells us two things about the setting of this story.
-This takes place during the Passover—a remembrance of the tenth plague, where God’s faithful people were saved by the blood of the lamb on their doorpost. That is a fitting image for what is about to take place in the life of Jesus.
-That his hour had come. Five times previously in John’s Gospel it is said that his hour had not yet come. But now it is here.
John 13:1- 5 (ESV)
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus is going to use the events of this chapter to demonstrate discipleship to his followers. It was a stark lesson for them, and it is one for us as well. What does he teach us about serving and being humble?
1. Serving Begins With Loving (John 13:1)
Jesus is demonstrating divine love in this text. He loved them “to the end” (ESV). The AMPC says, “He loved them to the last and to the highest degree.” He chooses to love even though there are many other things on his mind. The cross is near. He shouldn’t have to serve in this way if the disciples had taken it upon themselves. Even so, he
loves them by serving them. Jesus rooted his actions in two aspects of love:
-Love for those who were in the world with him.
-Love for his Father, to whom he was returning.?
Notice that his love is not based on how wonderful the disciples are. The world may label some people as unlovable, but when we see them as made in the image of God, we can serve in love.
He has been extending God’s forgiveness and love throughout the Gospel “…he loved them to the end.”
2. Serving Includes the Unworthy (John 13:2)?
Jesus saw them for who they really were. In this instance, He knew about Judas and the betrayal already. No one would have blamed him if he had sent Judas away before this moment. Yet he washes Judas’ feet.
Although that is striking, the truth is that Jesus has served every one of us—and none of us deserved it. We are in that company, all of us sinners who need saving.
Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
The cross is the ultimate expression of his love. It is a testimony to our inability to save ourselves. It is a testimony to his love for us. God comes to us in our state of helplessness. Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This is the kind of love that Jesus said would be the defining mark of those who claimed to follow him. It is not just a feeling, but a willingness to be humble. It moves beyond what is expected for the benefit of others. It serves even when it is unconventional, inconvenient, uncomfortable.
3. Serving Reaches Beyond Status (John 13:3–5)?
Jesus is Lord, King, Son of God. Washing dirty feet is way beneath his status. Yet he takes no regard for his power or position. He is fully aware of who he is in the Father’s eyes, so he willingly serves even the disciples.
I wonder, have we overlooked others who needed our help because they were not in the same category / social status / ability as we are? The big question is not “Can I lower myself to serve?” The big question is “What are the needs that I can help meet?”
4. Serving By Surrendering Our Pride (John 13:6–11)?
John 13:6-11
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Swindoll observes: “We usually feel embarrassed by deeds of service because we perceive that the ‘normal rules’ of status or rank have been breached. In Peter’s mind, the lesser should serve the greater.”
It seems strange to see Peter trying to argue with Jesus about the service he is going to render. Pride will always interfere with our relationship with Jesus. To accept what Jesus offers is to also accept the truth that we need what he offers. Grace is hard to accept because when we do, we are saying we accept something we needed desperately but could never provide for ourselves.
5. Serving is learned at the Master’s Feet
John 13:12-13 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?
-I am your Teacher and Lord, learn from me (13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.)
-You should wash one another’s feet. (14-15 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. )
-You are not greater than your teacher, be humble! (16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.)
-Serving brings a blessing (17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.)
It may not come naturally, it may be difficult, but it is something we can do as followers of Jesus.
Conclusion
Peter’s pride wanted to object to being served. Later, he wrote:
-1 Peter 3:8: “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”
-1 Peter 5:5-6: “…Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”
Today we are challenged to be servants like our Teacher, Jesus! We begin with love. We include the unworthy and reach beyond status. We surrender our pride and learn from Jesus!
Jesus lives within us and empowers us to be the humble servants he has called us to be.
4. What a great example of humble service we have in Jesus. He lives
within us and empowers us to be the humble servants he has
called us to be.
5. C. S. Lewis wrote, “It is not so much of our time and so much of our
attention that God demands; it is not even all our time and all our
attention; it is ourselves." From Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on
Prayer.
?
6. Today embrace the mission of serving - just like Jesus.
a. As a Christian – to serve and love others all our lives.
b. As a seeker – to realize Jesus washes more than your
feet, he washes sins away!
7. Next Steps
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Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus washes the disciples’ feet instead of simply giving them a sermon on love?
2. Humility derives from a verb that mans “to make low” or “to make small or insignificant.” How can we know if we are humble?
3. How is humble service a picture of the gospel to the unbelieving world?
4. Do you feel awkward or uncomfortable when others try to serve you? Why or why not?
5. Do you find it hard to serve people you view as undeserving? What are some excuses you make?
6. How do you read Peter’s objection to Jesus washing his feet. Is he being humble? Is he being prideful? Something else? Why does he change his perspective so dramatically after his first statement about Jesus ‘never’ washing his feet?
7. Among the people you live and work with, what would it mean to ‘practice foot washing’ - to model the humility of Jesus?
8. How does foot washing illustrate the meaning of the Cross?
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Bulletin Article
Betrayals
“I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”—John 13:21
Jesus draws back the curtain to reveal how the following days would unfold—through a betrayal. Not just any betrayer, but one of his own. A man he chose, who walked beside him, shared meals with him, and sat near him at that very moment.
Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” —John 13:27
Judas remains a mystery. He played a crucial part in the story, but did he have a choice? Could he have turned from this dark path, or was his fate sealed? Did he ever truly love Jesus? What changed his heart? And when Jesus chose him, did he already know this would be the one who would betray him with a kiss? John tells us that when Judas ate the bread, Satan entered him. Was that the moment his decision became final?
We may never know. But what we do know is this: Judas betrayed the one who knelt before him and washed his dirty feet. He witnessed the power of miracles, listened to words of eternal life, and saw compassion poured out on the broken. Still, he led the enemy to Jesus.
When Judas left, Jesus turned to those who remained and said he would be with them only “a little longer” (John 13:33). Then came this timeless command:
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. —John 13:34
What a remarkable teaching to give in the middle of such a storm! While hatred closed in around him, Jesus led his followers to live in love.
Betrayal is an ugly word. We might promise faithfulness and even say we would die for the Lord. The betrayals of Judas and Peter remind us that in our weakest moments, when sin takes hold, we face a choice. When you hear the rooster crow—when conviction awakens in your heart—will you keep walking the road of destruction, or will you turn back? Turn to the Savior. He knows. He cares. He saves.
From Seven Signs, Seven Days
John Dobbs
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Resources:
Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of John, Volume 2.
Carter, Matt and Josh Wredberg. Christ-Centered Exposition: John. Holman, 2017.
Chappell, Clovis G. Questions Jesus Asked. Abingdon Press, 1948.
Connelly, Douglas. John: The Way to True Life. InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Grant, Scott. Sermon called called “The Acceptance of Acceptance” found at http://pbc.org/dp/grant/upper/upper01.html
Lee-Thorp, Karen, Series Editor. LifeChange Series: John. Navpress, 2010.
Murray, Andrew. Humility (Updated, Annotated): The Beauty of Holiness (Murray Updated Classics Book 2) (p. 28). Aneko Press. Kindle Edition.
Swindoll, Charles R. Swindoll’s Living Insights: John. Tyndale, 2014.
