John 13:5-11 – The example of a servant

From demonstrating what a true heart of a servant looks like, Jesus went on to give a visual example of what a servant should do. He and His disciples were now alone in the Upper Room having their Passover meal. Traditionally, they would sit reclined in their usual posture with the left arm to support the head and right arm reaching out to the dishes on the table. Their feet would be stretched out behind them and away from the table. Without saying a word, the Lord took a basin of water and began to wash the disciples’ feet. Girded on His waist was a towel which He would use to wipe the feet dry after the washing. We can imagine the Lord moving from disciple to disciple and began washing their feet. 

When Jesus came to Peter, the latter was probably embarrassed that the Lord should want to wash his feet. So He exclaimed, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” And Jesus responded to him saying, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter was surprised because washing feet was meant to be the task of a slave and never the task of a master. No master would dress in a servant’s towel. It was absurd to even think of it. So Peter was indeed taken by surprise. So he protested and refused to have his feet washed by the Master.  

Jesus’ response to his protest was, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Being the extremist that he was, Peter then replied, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” He was always swinging like a pendulum from one extreme to another. In those days they wore open sandals and their feet were exposed to the dust on the road. A good host always have a servant at the door to wash the feet of his guests when they are invited for a meal. The Lord then patiently explained to him saying, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” What Jesus was telling Peter implied that a justified believer needs not go through a radical new cleansing of the whole body. What he needs rather was a daily cleansing from the contaminating effects of sin. Jesus went on to finish washing their feet. After that He arose, put on His usual garments, and reclined at the table with them again.

Here are two lessons for our consideration. Action speaks louder than words. Love is an action word. The best way to express love is to express it through acting in the best interest of those we love. Jesus gave us the example. Secondly, Jesus shows us the necessity for constant cleansing in our Christian walk. This is not a call to be sin conscious but to realize that we cannot enter into a conscience free relationship with the Lord, and yet continue to harbor sin. Therefore, we need to be circumspect and keep short account with the Lord in the way we conduct our life.