John 13:1-5
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.
Feast of the Passover
- John depicts Jesus as the Passover Lamb (John 1:29)
Jesus knew that his hour had come
to depart out of this world to the Father
- Jesus knew where he was going. This was never in doubt.
having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end
- To the end : to the fullest extent possible
- From what you know of these chapters and the events of that night, what are some ways that Jesus demonstrated the full extent of his love to His disciples?
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 …
- As a backdrop to Jesus’ action in washing his disciples’ feet, why are these statements important?
Jesus …rose from supper, 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.
- Whose job would this normally be?
- What had the disciples been arguing about during the meal, according to Luke’s account? (Luke 22:24-27)
- What statement was Jesus making by doing this for them?
[ Note : we’ll talk more about the significance of the foot washing when we get to verses 12-17 next week]
John 13:6-9
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!”
What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.
- afterward : after Jesus had been raised from the dead. John 16:12-15.
You shall never wash my feet
- Why did Peter not think Jesus should wash his feet?
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
- Why did Jesus say this? See verse 10.
John 13:10-11
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.”
The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.
- except for his feet : Jesus is referring to the common custom of foot-washing due to dusty road conditions.
- He is also using the need for foot-washing as an analogy for regular spiritual cleansing, even among those who are clean (i.e. already grafted into the vine, already accepted, already considered clean by the Father). See 1 John 1:7-10. We will talk more about this next time.
And you are clean, but not every one of you
- See John 15.3. Jesus clearly indicated that he considered his disciples to be already clean.
- How do you explain this? He had not yet died for them. But see 1 Peter 1:19-20, Revelation 13:8.
- In view of their evident weaknesses and failings, how could he speak so positively of them?
- What was the difference between the disciples whom he called clean, and the one who was not clean?
- How does this affect your view of your standing before God?
