Jesus got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and washed the dirty feet of his disciples one by one. There are few incidents in the gospel story which reveals the character of Jesus, and which so perfectly show his love.[1]
John records that Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power (v. 3).What the Father had given into his hands was a gift of love. It is his recognition of this fact that sets him free to love his own “to the end” (v. 1), and to demonstrate it by washing their feet.[2]
However, when Jesus Christ bent down and offered to wash the feet, Peter rejected the offer because he did not know the meaning. Then Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” (v. 8). Only the Lord can wash our sin and only after we are cleansed can we be the disciples of Christ.
The event of Jesus’ foot washing foreshadows the cross itself.[3] “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Jesus’ death on the cross will be like a bath: it will cleanse us wholly.[4]
Furthermore, Jesus’ offer of footwashing is an offer of love. However, Jesus, who “loved his own” (v. 1), can only offer this love to them. He cannot compel them to accept it.[5]Only the ones who are willing to accept can receive the gift of love from Jesus Christ.
In order to accept the gift of love, we should first be humble, confessing that we need his love. The gift of love that the Lord wishes to offer us is the gift of life that he lavishly gives all things, not sparing even his own life. It is heart trembling blood-red love. When we reject this love, we do not have a part in him and cannot be his disciples.
Being loved is the indispensable precondition for loving “We love, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).[6] When we are not loved, we cannot keep the command to love each other.
To accept this love of the Lord is “eternal life”; to refuse it is “judgment.”[7] We should willingly accept the Lord’s love and be cleansed with the love.
[1] Barclay, The Gospel of John, 159.
[2] Marrow, The Gospel of John, 230.
[3] Morris, The Gospel according to John, 544.
[4] Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John, 470.
[5] Marrow, The Gospel of John, 229.
[6]Marrow, The Gospel of John, 230.
[7]Marrow, The Gospel of John, 231.