This remarkable scene in which Jesus has washed his disciples’ feet is rich in symbolism. Jesus has explained that it symbolises both the decisive and ongoing cleansing from sin that he alone can and does give through his death on the cross. But there is also a third meaning implicit here, which Jesus now deals with openly.
1. Jesus our example
After re-taking his seat, Jesus asks a very pertinent question of his disciples: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” (v.12). It isn’t just directed at Peter, who had plainly failed to grasp what was being done, but is a question for the whole group. Do they – do we – understand what this scene is all about?
Of course, we can answer that this scene is all about Jesus’ unique ministry through his death which means we can know true cleansing from sin. We’d be correct in doing that – Jesus himself said so! But Jesus doesn’t leave it there and we need to follow his teaching here.
In these verses, Jesus opens up for his disciples the exemplary nature of what he has done – he has set them an example of how they should treat each other. As followers of Jesus, their commission is to learn from and inhabit the example he has set for them.
Of course, the cross is unrepeatable and Jesus is not saying they ought to lay down their lives for each others’ sins. But to say his death is unique doesn’t mean it can’t also serve as an example.
Maybe sometimes we play down this aspect of the scriptures because we’re concerned not to give the impression that Jesus is only an example for us. He is so much more and we are right to insist on that. But we must not allow that legitimate concern to mask the very heavy emphasis in the NT on Jesus as our example.
And we cannot fail to see that Jesus makes that point here in the strongest terms: “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (vv.13,14)
Is he our teacher? Then we should learn the lesson he teaches. Is he our Lord? Then we should follow the instruction he gives us.
Before we move on to consider what this means in detail, we must see the basis on which Jesus grounds the call to follow his example. It is found in the words, “as I have done for you” (v.15). Here we find, says one writer, “the ground on which this discipleship rests and the source from which it gains its strength.”
The lesson Jesus is teaching makes great demands of us. We will only be able to rise to the challenge through personal experience of the grace Jesus has lavished on us in his own service for our sakes.
2. Living the Lesson
So what, in more detail, is the lesson Jesus wants us to embrace and the example he wants us to emulate? Quite simply, that we should wash each other’s feet.
Does he mean that literally? Well, if we were in that culture it might very well be a legitimate application of what Jesus is saying but the lesson goes far deeper than one specific example. We are being urged here, as disciples of Jesus, to see ourselves, essentially, as servants of God and servants of one another.
We might naturally react against that – yes, I’ll serve God and do so gladly but to think of myself as a servant of others? That doesn’t come easy. But Jesus is emphatic: “no servant is greater than his master” (v.16). If that is how Jesus lived, our calling can be no less than one of genuine and sacrificial servanthood.
But what does it mean ‘on the ground’? Washing the feet of others was a lowly, menial and unpleasant job that wasn’t especially valued. There are ways in which we can serve one another that we don’t find particularly easy or pleasant – but that’s no reason not to do them and to do them cheerfully and well.
This will include the use of our time in listening to others, seeking to help them, to pray for them, to bear with them in all their peculiar ways. (Don’t you find it’s always others who have the peculiar ways and not you? I know I do!)
We may be very happy to do certain works of service because they appeal to us; they aren’t a chore. There may be something exciting about them; they may even get our name in lights. But what Jesus has just done is something else: he has done work that isn’t pleasant and that isn’t highly valued. And he calls us to do the same.
Others may not thank us for it; they ought to, but whether they do or they don’t is to make no difference: our call is to serve. It might go unnoticed but maybe it’s better for us that way.
All of that is challenging enough on its own but there is something else here to work through: Judas is still in the room. Jesus washed the feet of the one he knew would so very soon betray him. Our call to serve includes those who are ungrateful and unbelieving, those who would betray Jesus, whose hypocrisy is open and clear.
If it can be hard to serve those we love as brothers and sisters, this is harder still. But it’s what we’re called to – not that we ignore the hypocrisy and fail to speak against it; Jesus didn’t neglect to deal with Judas – but that we deal with such people in grace and with loving humility.
You see just this kind of thing in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus tells us to go the extra mile and to offer more than is asked of us (Mt. 5:38-42). Not that we’re naïve but, rather, we deliberately take the form of a servant, just like our Teacher and Lord.
Think of how that might apply at work or at school or maybe in your family – and don’t be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. It may indeed look a forlorn hope but Jesus did just that even when he knew Judas was going out, come what may. Our call is to follow Jesus into service that costs and service that counts.
3. Will you do it?
Well, that’s what Jesus teaches us in this passage. But there’s a sting in the tail. We can nod our agreement and say our ‘amen’ to his teaching but such gestures may well be empty. We can easily agree with what God says and then go our own way –and Jesus knows it. And so he says, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (v.17)
The blessing of being a Christian does not lie in the knowing but in the doing. I can know that there is forgiveness for all who look to Jesus but unless and until I personally do that, I remain unforgiven.
There is great blessing in becoming like our Lord in humble and self-giving service – the blessing of close fellowship with God and of knowing his love working powerfully in our hearts. But only those who actually take up and live out that vocation experience its blessing, says Jesus.
This is just the point James makes in his letter (see 1:25). Does reading a book on holiness make a person holy? I once made the mistake of thinking it did but I was wrong.
Simply knowing the truth is not enough; merely hearing the call to serve is not sufficient. We need to do something about it. It’s one thing to call ourselves ‘evangelical’; it’s another to live it out.
Has this passage challenged you? Then why not go home and make a list of how you might serve in the coming days, of who you might serve. Whatever you do, do something.
Maybe you know there are things you’ve been avoiding doing because they’re neither easy nor pleasant – why not add those to the list and then get on and do them? I’m not trying to overload people whose lives are already busy, nor add unnecessary guilt to our hearts – but I know how easy I find it to shelve things that are hard or unpleasant; and maybe you do too.
You won’t lose out; in fact, far from it – Jesus says “you will be blessed if you do them.” And the blessing will be for all to share and for unbelievers to be attracted to. How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together – and serve together – in unity! For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.
God grant it to be so for all his people. Amen!
