January 10, 2016  John 12:49 – 13:11

Download discussion questions:  John 12_49-13_11 Washing Feet

In this familiar passage about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, John records the process in great detail.  He describes Jesus getting up from the table and each step of the necessary preparations (John 13:4-5) until He returned to His place at the table (v. 12).  Why did the writer include such minutiae?  As one member of our discussion group commented, “You can see it.”  As we have seen repeatedly, John is a great storyteller under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Seeing the scene might give us a better idea of what the experience was like for the disciples.  The level of their discomfort and an awkward silence probably grew with each step:  One comment in our group compared the scene to a large business dinner, and the CEO quietly gets up, takes off his jacket, and starts clearing dishes.  Both settings would involve disruption of the accepted social order:  how we treat others and how we expect to be treated by them.  Picturing how we might respond to the CEO’s action gives us a little glimpse of how the disciples might have felt.

As often happens, Peter’s reaction is the most dramatic.  First, he questions Jesus (v. 6) and then flatly refuses to cooperate:  “Never shall You wash my feet!” (v. 8).  Several people suggested descriptions of Peter’s response:  embarrassed, indignant, inappropriate.  One member pointed out a possible similarity near the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  Peter balked at having his feet washed, and John the Baptist was hesitant to baptize Jesus (Matthew 3:13-15).  At least one difference seems obvious.  The Baptist’s concern grew out of true humility:  “I have need to be baptized by You…” and a sincere question:  “,,, and do You come to me?”  Peter was much more direct:  “Never!”  Both were (supposedly) motivated by humility, but Peter seemed to have what might be called rebellious humility, obedience on his own terms.  As one group member commented, what Peter thought was right or appropriate superseded what Jesus intended to do.  Even when Jesus explained the importance of Peter letting Him wash his feet, Peter once again had a different idea.  Now he asked Jesus to wash more than just his feet.  Somehow he couldn’t seem to simply take Jesus at His word and submit to what He wanted.

Someone pointed out how the Bible is very honest, even in scenes that might make Peter, the leader of the early church (and the first pope in Roman Catholic teaching), look bad.  Accurate and truthful historical documents do that.  Fabricated legends usually don’t.  The sermon just before our group meeting was the beginning of a series on the Bible as the “Breath of Heaven.”  The inspiration of Scripture was described as God working through very human writers.  This passage in John’s account was a good example of the realism and authenticity displayed in Scripture.

Two themes dominate this passage.  First, Jesus’ words and John’s narrative describe the relationship between Jesus and the Father.  Then, Jesus’ actions illustrate the relationship between Jesus and His disciples.

Jesus repeatedly shifts attention back to His Father just as He has done throughout John’s account.  The initiative (12:49) and the timing (13:1) and the very words of His ministry (12:50) were His loving obedience to the Father.  His perspective on His entire ministry was shaped by His relationship with the Father.  The Father had sent Him (12:49) and given everything to Him (13:3).  He certainly knew that He was about to “depart out of this world.” The main aspect of that departure was not the horrible death He was facing but rather the anticipation of returning to the Father (13:1).  He had come from God and was going back to God (13:3).

His love and obedience and anticipation of returning to the Father enabled Him to display servant-love to His disciples, including the one who He knew would betray Him (13:11).  The subservient act of washing the dusty (or worse) feet was the most powerful way He could show them the effect of His relationship with His Father.  Because He knew His identity was grounded in His relationship with Almighty God, Jesus could take on the most despised household task.  Soon He would face the most despised method of death by torture.  The passage inextricably connects the relationship Jesus knew He had with the Father and how He expressed His relationship with His followers.  We often study this passage and focus on the humble foot washing without enough attention to the clear motivation behind that act.

The contrast between Jesus and Peter is striking.  Jesus was completely submitted to the Father, to doing exactly what the Father desired.  Peter was submitted to Jesus in theory, but more than once he offered a modification of the path Jesus was following.  Perhaps Peter was motivated, at least in part, by what others might think.  Maybe he worried about his reputation or how an awkward situation might make him look.  Those kinds of passions often affect our actions.  We can respond in anger when we are questioned, or we can become defensive when our reputation is threatened.  We can be driven by the desire to look good in front of others, or we can demand better service from a store clerk.  Even if we don’t act or speak on some of those desires, we know what happens within our hearts.  We may try to make convincing excuses or justifications.  But often the real heart of the matter is that we feel that our identity is wrapped up in what others think.  Our joy and satisfaction depend on how well we impress them with our skill or wisdom or insights.

On the other hand, Jesus willingly took the menial role of the foot-washing servant, emptying Himself of social standing and abandoning His status.  That role was only a dim reflection of the emptying He experienced in the whole incarnation and the abandonment He experienced on the cross.  The reason He was able to wash feet and die on a cross was His confidence in His relationship with the Father.  That relationship was the firm foundation of His identity.  Hebrews 12:2 says that “for the joy set before Him He endured the cross.”  The joy of returning to the Father who had sent Him was at the heart of His endurance.  He was not dependent on the opinion of others while He washed feet or while He hung on the cross.  His joy and satisfaction and fulfillment were in His relationship with the Father.

The degree that our joy is solidly rooted in God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) determines how willing we can be to face awkward or difficult or unpleasant circumstances.  When we face a difficult conversation or a risky relationship, are we most concerned with ourselves?  Do we ask:  “What will make me look best here?  How can I best protect myself in this situation?  Should I just avoid the confrontation because I don’t know how it will turn out?”  If my identity depends on what others think or how respected I am or other self-obsessed criteria, I will be driven by those motives.  But if my identity follows the example of Jesus, grounded in a relationship with God, I have a God-obsessed freedom.  If I am not dependent on what others think, I can ask:  “What should I do that will best display God’s character?  What is the Holy Spirit prompting me to do?  How can I ‘speak just as the Father has told me’?”  The joy that Jesus anticipated in returning to the Father can be the same joy that enables us to endure whatever we face.