John 13:5-10 (WEL) After that, he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 Then he came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not just my feet but also my hands and head.” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed only needs to wash his feet and is completely clean. You are clean but not all.”
V5 After that, he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel that was tied around him.
Why did Jesus do this? For a few reasons: 1) to show a servant’s heart to help and bless the brothers, 2) to teach them humility, 3) to give them an example of not wanting to be treated like a king, when, in reality, you are a servant, 4) to meet the needs of people if you are able.
V6 Then he came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Peter was not pleased, however, because Jesus is Lord, and the Lord is not to do this slavery service. Jesus had to correct him to show how to be compassionate to others.
We are not to be compassionate when people:
- are under the Lord’s discipline or punishment, we must let the Lord complete His work in that person, but we can pray
- they will manipulate or abuse us
- It will dishonor the Lord Jesus in some way
- It will tempt someone. Men should only wash the feet of men, and women the feet of women. The only exceptions are one’s spouse.
V7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.”
Jesus didn’t explain His reasons at that moment because 1) He needed to wash the feet of the other brethren and 2) they were not ready to accept the teaching.
God can move slowly if He needs to when teaching us.
Peter is not spiritually minded enough to comprehend and accept this teaching, so the Lord Jesus does not push him to accept, but Peter will understand as the Holy Spirit leads him and teaches him. So it is for all of us.
Principle: When God teaches people, He teaches at their level of comprehension, and secondly, when we teach our children, be age-appropriate. We do not start teaching a 4-year-old to start driving a car and let them.
V8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”
Peter, opinionated Peter, just like many of us, makes a judgment not based on knowledge or wisdom.
Jesus corrected Peter. Peter needs to learn to accept God’s blessings when offered. Jesus is Lord and might not offer a blessing again.
V9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not just my feet but also my hands and head.”
Peter does not want to offend the Lord Jesus, so he speaks out. But Peter now will learn another lesson. Peter does not need a whole body washing just his feet.
Washing feet is a cultural thing but is good for the health of the feet.
V10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed only needs to wash his feet and is completely clean. You are clean but not all.”
Jesus is referring to the cleanliness of Mosaic Law as in Leviticus 8:15 and Psalm 51:7. The Hebrew word for purge, purify, etc., is H2398 חָטָא châṭâʼ, khaw-taw. It is in the Piel stem, thus, (Brown Driver Biggs): “1b1) to bear loss, 1b2) to make a sin-offering, 1b3) to purify from sin, 1b4) to purify from uncleanness.”
Ritual washings have been done away with because they do not wash the heart. Only the Holy Spirit can wash the heart clean. Compare: Psalm 51:10, Proverbs 20:9, Matthew 5:8, and 1 Timothy 1:5.
We learn:
- How to be humble.
- How to be compassionate to our Christian brothers and sisters.
Questions:
- Christian men, are you willing to wash your Christian brother’s feet?
- Christian women, are you willing to wash your Christian sister’s feet?