Washing Feet

Washing Feet

Today we continue our quest for excellence in discipleship, and our key passage is John 13:1-17 and we will get there shortly.

I’d like us to take a quick look at the The Gospel of John:

Although it is one of the 4 gospels, it does not fit into the synoptic Gospels for a few reasons, and we’ll explore that at another time.

Also about 90% of what we see in John’s Gospel, including today’s passage, is exclusive to John’s Gospel, meaning it is not found in the other 3 gospels.

A few other unique qualities of book of John:

These events are not recorded in John:

Jesus’s baptism

The Transfiguration

The Parables

Exorcisms

Almost half of the Gospel deals with the last week of Jesus’ life.

The 7 “I Am” sayings, which we uncovered a few weeks back.

These are a few of the defining characteristics of the book of John.

One other thing I’d like us to look at is Jewish custom concerning washing feet.

Traditionally, the host of the home would have a servant wash the guests feet. Usually, immediately upon arrival.

Mainly done because after travelling dirt road, feet became dirty and smelly. You mom’s whose boys aren’t teenagers yet will gain an appreciation of what I’m talking about!

So, in order for the house not to smell like dirty feet and the meal not be repulsed by that same smell, feet were washed.

Very often, while the guests were enjoying fellowship and a meal, the servants would clean the guests shows that had removed.

Title of today’s message is “Washing Feet”.

I covered that info about Jewish custom because first of all, other cultures sort of fascinate me, but more importantly to help us understand how it fits in, to the significance of today’s passage.

Stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.

John 13:1–6 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having 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 to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?””

I love John’s writing style.

I see humor in so many of his passages.

I love how his phraseology is also unique.

The syntax and cadence of his speech is different than the other gospels.

Because of that, I can’t anticipate what the next word or grouping of words is going to be.

Allow me to illustrate

John 13:1 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

-ask others what their bible says-

Comment as needed

NKJV is my go-to, but quite often I read from several other translations when I read John.

So, I love John’s humor, and I like how he phrases differently, mainly because it sort of reshapes my linguistic thought patterns.

When considering verse 1, I’m thinking Jesus is probably looking around the table and seeing proud hearts and dirty feet.

After all, we see in just a few verses prior to this passage that Jesus has told the disciples that He will soon be betrayed and killed.

It just sort of falls on deft ears.

They just kind of go right on to the “next thing”

Here’s the passage:

Luke 22:24“Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

See the pride and self-centeredness?

John 13:3–4 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.”

He’s thinking “ok these knuckleheads still don’t get it.”

Washing feet was below them.

So He begins washing their feet.

There’s another story about washing feet found in:

Luke 7:36-50. About Mary washing Jesus’ feet. One verse is so touching and powerful, I’d like to drill down to it:

Luke 7:38 “and (she, Mary)stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.”