Washing Feet the Right Way
If you know the account of Jesus washing the feet of the 12 disciples in John 13, here is a question for you: How many times did Jesus wash the disciples’ feet? Once, at the last supper? Daily, when they ate their other, more routine suppers? On other special occasions? We can answer that question indirectly by observing some things about the account in John 13.
We know Jesus was doing more than simply performing the function of a foot-washing servant because of three clues in the text. First, in His exchange with Simon, Jesus made it clear that what was at stake was not simply leaving the table with dirty feet. When Peter refused the foot-washing, Jesus said, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (v. 8). Those words are strange if merely cleaning Peter’s feet was the goal. Second, Jesus expected that the incident would be significant to the disciples later. Again speaking to Peter, Jesus predicted that, like most things He, the disciples would not understand its significance until later. “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter,” he told Simon Peter in verse 7. Third, Jesus prompted them to consider the meaning of His service to them. Verse 12 tells us that, “after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, ‘Know ye what I have done to you?’”
Since we live with the benefit of written Scriptures, our natural answer to His last question would be to say that, yes, we do know what Jesus was doing. According to verse 15, He was setting the disciples an example. The cleaned their feet to make a point. “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet” (vv. 13-14).
Let us return to the question at the beginning. How often did Jesus wash the disciples’ feet? Only this one time, Scripture seems to be telling us. Jesus didn’t act as their lowly servant as they traveled. He didn’t take up the basin and towel at the marriage in Cana when He turned water into wine. He didn’t wash their feet when He chose them to be His disciples.
Why didn’t Jesus wash feet more often? In fact, on many occasions, others actually served Jesus. For example, Mary spent expensive ointment on Him not many days before the Last Supper. The gospels indicate that first Judas, then eventually all of the disciples were offended that the expensive ointment wasn’t instead sold to meet the needs of the poor. Jesus responded that, in fact, it was right to spend the perfume on Him. Jesus gives two reasons. First, “ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always” (Mark 14:7). Second, “She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” (Mk. 14:8). Jesus was worth the expense, for the act signified His coming sacrificial death.
On many other occasions Jesus operated in His rightful place as Lord and Master instead of foot-washing servant. He did not prepare the Passover; He directed the disciples to do it. On His travels, Jesus was ministered to by female disciples who presumably prepared food, washed clothes, and performed other domestic duties for the traveling band. Even at the feeding of the 4000 and 5000, the disciples performed the work of the foot servants, distributing food and gathering leftovers while Jesus miraculously multipled the meal.
We are left with two questions. Why did Jesus not perform the more lowly, menial tasks on other occasions? And what did He expect the disciples to learn from His example washing feet?
The answer to the last question comes first. Jesus wanted his disciples to “do as I have done unto you” (v. 15). Obviously, that included washing feet. But since Jesus didn’t often wash feet, neither would His disciples. Instead, we can better Jesus’ act of service from another exchange He had with the twelve. In Mark 10, we read that the disciples were debating who would receive the greatest honor when Jesus inaugurated His kingdom. In response, Jesus said this: “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest shall be servant of all” (Mark 10:42-44). What does it look like for one who deserves the chief honor to be the chief servant? John 13 shows us. By washing their feet, Jesus was showing them what it looked like for one who deserved honor to set aside that honor and be a servant.
Mark 10 also helps us answer the question of why Jesus didn’t perform menial servant tasks more often. After correcting the disciples and calling them to be servants, Jesus referred to His own example. “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus is the greatest example of humble service because His entire life was an act of humility from the highest place. According to Philippians 2:7-8, Jesus was “made in the likeness of men” and “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” The incarnation was His humility, a much greater demonstration than even the lowliest servant’s task. By washing the disciples’ feet, He was expressing the humility of His incarnation and coming death in terms they could later understand and appreciate.
We can make one chief application from Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet. Let’s review. Jesus did not make a habit of washing feet. Instead, He served in other ways that only the Son of God could serve. He preached and healed in the power of the Spirit. He prayed and taught. Ultimately, He would die for our sins. In John 13, Jesus washed feet because it was a point only He could make. “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Obviously, there is only one Lord and Master; no one else could set that example of service.
Here is the application. Often, servanthood in Christian circles is presented as someone in authority performing tasks that make life easy for those under his care. The unstated goal of serving is the appreciation and gratitude of those you serve. If this is the standard of servanthood, Jesus failed. Peter argued with Him about the foot washing. Most of the people He healed, fed, and taught didn’t understand and were only interested in having their physical needs met. The Resurrection accounts make clear that no one understood, much less appreciated, that His death was an atonement for sin. If Jesus’ goal was to serve for the satisfaction of others, He failed. It wasn’t until after He had ascended that His ministry was understood and appreciated.
Instead, Jesus served according to the needs of those around Him. He preached, healed, fed, and taught because it was necessary for the Son of God to be the perfect Prophet. He died because only He, the Great High Priest, could make atonement for sin. Jesus didn’t spend His earthly ministry washing feet, plowing fields, or tending animals because that’s not what His people needed. They needed a Savior, not a house servant or a farm hand. Any disciple could clean sandals; only the Son of God could die for sins.
Today, all who seek to serve should follow the example of Christ and answer this question: What do those under my care need? The answer might be very different from what those people want, or even what they appreciate. Just like with Jesus, some people may not like what is done for them or to them. They may resist being led, or being instructed, or even being held to expectations. The disciples didn’t always understand or appreciate the service of Jesus either. But Jesus was faithful to the Father. As His earthly ministry drew to a close, He could say that He finished the work the Father had given Him (John 17:4). He revealed to them the Father (John 17:6), He gave them the word the Father had meant for them to receive (John 17:8), and He didn’t lose any of them (John 17:12). The test of servanthood is similar. The question is not, Did I make those I lead happy today? Did they enjoy my service to them? The question is Did I give them what God says they need? If so, we, like Jesus, have been faithful servants.
The above article was written by Jonathan Kyser. He is a pastoral assistant at NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
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