Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, we read his “hour had not yet come.” Here John wrote, “the time had come.” More than once lately, I’ve read others writing about “waiting seasons,” when the time for (fill in the blank) has not (yet) come. Perhaps you’re in such a season now. God has given you a glimpse of the future, but you’re not there yet—you have steps to take or a path to walk before you arrive.
Read John 13:1-9.
- The time had come for Jesus to finish his earthly ministry. Not simply leave, but complete what he came to accomplish.
- Jesus knew the point in time had come for the completion of the divine plan.1
- His knowing included intuitive love and care for his disciples.2
- Jesus loved his disciples to the end, and he proceeded to show his love in a tangible way.
- The disciples were with Jesus at the evening (Passover) meal.
- John noted Judas had already determined to betray Jesus.
- Judas had heeded the prince of devils, who slandered God, known as Satan.
“Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve” (Luke 22:3).
- Jesus served his disciples, knowing he had full authority and power from God.
- The Father trusted and gave Jesus charge to care for those he would save.
- Confident in his role and identity, he had freedom to truly serve.
- Knowing he would go away and leave his disciples, Jesus wanted to tangibly show his love.
- Later, he explained his actions should also serve as an example for them.
- Jesus performed a servant’s duties, following standard procedure for the day, nothing special or unusual or “supernatural.”
- According to Zodhiates, when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, it was a spiritual act. Spiritual washing “symbolizes justification as the bathing of the whole body, while sanctification is the constant need of washing individual parts of the body.”3
- Peter asked Jesus a question that sounds like, “what are you doing?”
- A child knows Mom or Dad is doing a task but perhaps wants to distract the parent for attention.
- Did Peter want to initiate a conversation with Jesus about a “more important matter?”
- Did Peter ask a rhetorical question?
- Did Peter want an explanation?
Jesus answered every question Peter might have thought.
- Yes, I will wash your feet.
- No, there isn’t anything more important at this moment in time.
- Yes, I will explain later.
- You do not intuitively know now, but you shall (in the future) know experientially.4
- Jesus did not say, “be quiet and let me finish.”
- He invited Peter to continue his thought:
- “Okay, let’s talk about what you’re doing right now.” (I won’t allow you to wash my feet.)
- Jesus said Peter needed to learn to participate with Jesus—in service.
- In typical Peter fashion, he said he would be all in!
*When have you had a conversation like this with Jesus, and how did he respond?
*Why do we consider serving in this way a humbling task?
Read John 13:10-17.
- In the context of participating with Jesus, once we choose to walk with him, we take the next step, one thing at a time.
- Peter was already aligned with Jesus, but having his feet washed allowed him to enter into this particular moment.
- Not everyone who walks alongside us—attends church, walks the outward walk—has been washed clean in their spirits, with a pure heart and spirit.
- Jesus knew all along who would betray him. He also knew those who were “clean” only on the outside.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27).
- Jesus invited his disciples to experience inward spiritual washing and then serve others from the same mercy they received.
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4-5).
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22).
- Jesus finished his task, then asked the disciples if they understood what he had done.
- Did they fully understand and comprehend his intentions?5
- He confirmed his role as their teacher, or rabbi.
- He served them and invited them to participate with him, to join him in his sufferings.
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).
- Jesus gave the disciples an example to imitate in their actions.
- To follow his example would mean serving even unto death, to die to self and invite others to participate in life with Jesus as well.
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
- Jesus spoke again as one with the Father, the great I AM, when he said, truly, truly: “I who am the Amen [Truth itself] tell you as a most certain and infallible truth…”6
- Verse 16 holds a caution for us to remember: No one is greater than the Father, the Lord God Almighty. Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the garden,
“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).
- Isaiah also wrote about one who aspired to be like God,
“How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14).
- Do not make the (same) mistake again to try to work your way into being like God.
- The servant here is one whose “will [is] consumed in [or with] the will of the other.”7
- Knowing the truth and acting on the truth leads to blessing.
- Those who walk in God’s ways find favor with him.
*Why are people tempted to become like God?
*What are some practical ways we can practice serving one another?
*What is the next step Jesus is inviting you to take to participate and walk with him?
If you’ve ever washed someone’s feet, perhaps you understand the sense of honor and gratitude I experienced when Mom allowed me to wash and care for her feet. She lived in constant pain, and could no longer perform the task. I hoped in some way to comfort her…
The past couple weeks authors I’ve read have encouraged readers to ask God questions as a regular part of prayer, our interacting with God.
If you’re currently in a caregiving season, rejoice in the opportunity to serve and learn and draw close to God in setting aside your life.
If you’re not (yet) there, ask for opportunities to serve others and show love as Jesus modeled.
If you’re on the other side, rest, reflect on insights gleaned, and ask what God wants you to do with the learning.
- Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (AMG Publishers, 1992), 1376, 1499-1500.
- Zodhiates, 373.
- Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study New Testament, King James Version (AMG Publishers, 1991), 352-353.
- Zodhiates, Word Study Dictionary, 509.
- Zodhiates, 372-373, 1190.
- Zodhiates, 135.
- Zodhiates, 483.