John 13:1-17

In the final few days before Jesus’ crucifixion, John 13 talks about a meeting with his disciples for Passover meal. At the meal there has been no servant present to wash their feet as was the custom, since their feet would get very dirty just walking in sandals in everyday life.

The disciples who had previously had discussions about who is the greatest among them and who would be sitting at Jesus‘s right hand were probably looking around at each other wondering who was the low man on the totem pole who would be willing to step up and do the job of washing peoples’ feet.

Verse three is very telling as it outlines that Jesus, knowing who he was and that he had all the authority of the Father, decided that he would be the one who would humble himself to wash the disciples’ feet. He was very secure in his own identity in knowing he was loved and approved of by the Father, so he was willing to humble himself and do the job of a servant, a job that nobody else wanted to do.

This, of course, made them all very uncomfortable and highlighted their own attitudes. Peter as usual is the one who speaks out without thinking. He felt very uncomfortable that his master, his teacher, the Messiah, the son of God, was acting as a servant and this was not right. It’s not how it should be! People have their places and their roles to play and very indignantly he said “you should never wash my feet.” He may have been thinking of Jesus “it’s too much to degrade yourself in this way” -  but instead it comes across as prideful and not being able to submit to Jesus or humble himself.

When Jesus challenges him and says that you can be no part of me if you’re not willing to submit to this, then Peter changes quickly and says he’s willing to be washed all over and he wants to be all in with Jesus. Jesus clarifies that this is not another type of baptism but just a cleansing for him living day-to-day in the world.

Jesus then asks them all, “Do you understand what I have done?” He turns things upside down again with the question. He needs us to understand it: what we do does not define who we are. 

We are often striving for approval from those around us and recognition for what we are doing. Jesus wants us to define ourselves by who God sees us as. We are chosen by God as a first-born son or daughter worthy of his love and forgiveness. We need to follow that example in the way that we serve others with love and humility.

Lord, I pray that you will give us opportunities in this tough situation we are in to serve others with your love and humility and follow Jesus’ example.