Jesus Looking at His Own Cross

A Walk with John(2)

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John 13:1-11

We have seen how Jesus demonstrated his costly love and grace toward the woman. Those kinds of actions annoyed the Pharisees. No wonder they crucified our Lord.

Our next scene is in the upper room, where Jesus is having supper with his disciples. It was the Passover meal. Let us look at the events which are written by John.

“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.”

Three themes: Jesus knew the hour had arrived; he will depart to the Father; and he loves them very much- it also means that he had the ultimate expression of love towards them. (know, depart, love)

Again the same themes repeat:

“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.”

The same themes: Jesus knew; will depart to the Father; loves them by demonstrating (washing the feet).

Talking about feet in the Middle Eastern context is something very low and degrading. You can insult someone saying, “My shoes are better than you.” You will never show the bottom of your feet to anyone; that is a big insult.

What a shameful act was done by an Iraqi reporter towards the President in Iraq. A man threw his shoes at him. His intention was not just hurting the President physically, but also to disgrace him.

Jesus gave the example of useless salt, where it will be dumped on the ground and people will walk over it. That is very bad.

We have another verse in Psalms (psalm 41:6)

 “Even my close friend, whom I trusted,
       he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me.”

That was Judas who betrayed his Lord.

(In the Middle East, you do not cross your legs in the church; that is not acceptable.)

Jesus is humbly accepting the role of servant to wash the feet of his disciples.

One of my favorite passages is in Philippians 2:6-8

“Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, (literally, He emptied himself)
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!”

I am giving you all these examples just to show how meaningful what Jesus did to his disciples was- taking off his garment, putting on the garment of the humility, and becoming like a servant. Remember, washing the feet of the guests was the duty of the slave.

This is not just a simple humble act by Jesus. This is much more than that.

Do you see how the roles are changed, the leader, the king, became a servant. The disciples ware seated in the chair of nobility.

We find this in the Messianic Banquet at the end times when the roles will be changed:

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. …. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:35-40)

Jesus is acting this end- times banquet, which will happen when the Messiah returns. Jesus is preparing his disciples and us today for what will come in the future.

Peter did not allow Jesus to wash his feet.

“‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.’ ”(6-7)

Do you see what is happening? Jesus is not just washing the feet of the disciples. It is not just a good gesture of humility;

it is more than that. Jesus is the Messiah.

He is the one who came to this earth to bring the Good News of salvation. The ultimate love and servanthood was demonstrated the next day on the cross. After the resurrection, we are all given the chance of a new life in anticipation of the Messianic Banquet when He comes back as a King.

We have entered the “end times” where we continue bearing the cross and enjoying the victory of our Lord over the death and sin in our lives.

Meanwhile we are waiting with our “lamps burning” (Luke 12:35) ready for His return anytime. When he returns, he will wash our feet again. Can you see the whole picture?

Meanwhile, we will continue washing each other’s feet. Jesus said: “You also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (14-15)

So what?

Allow Jesus to wash your “feet”. Allow Jesus to wash the “dirty” areas of your life. The prostitute woman came to be stoned, yet left allowing Jesus to “wash” her old life. “Go and do not sin” was the command. We all need to allow Jesus to wash our feet, otherwise we do not have any connection with him.

I will leave you with this question: What does it mean in your life to wash each other’s feet?

Amen