Though John did not record it, Luke included a very tragic line in his record of the Last Supper: “A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest”(Luke 22:24). Even at the Last Supper, with the shadow of the cross approaching, the disciples were in a dispute over who is greater (Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45; Luke 22:24-27).
Back in the day of sandaled feet, foot washing was a humble but necessary service. After traveling over dusty and muddy paths, a foot bath was most refreshing. It was usually performed by the more lowly slaves–for there were distinctions of rank in slavery.[1]
Jesus’footwashing was not a grand drama aiming to attract the eyes of audiences. The upper room that this incident took place was no theater.[2] This was real life. You cannot wash feet without getting down.Jesus’ stooping to wash his disciples’ feet was symbolic of God’s humility.[3] Accordingly, it was not in spite of but because of the consciousness of his divine origin and destination that he arose from supper and assumed the dress and posture of a slave.[4]
It is the story of this final submission of Jesus to death of which the foot washing was an acted parable.[5] It demonstrates what the Lord had always been teaching, will be teaching, and showing after this incident. In one word he had demonstrated “love.” Love compels the most menial services willingly because love is always like that.[6]
“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all,'” (Mark 9:35; Matthew 23:11; 20:27; Mark 10:43-44; Luke 22:26-27).
Jesus is teacher and Lord (v. 13) but the greatest became the least. The Son of God came to us, became the lowliest of all servants, the last of all, and served all.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (v. 14).As Jesus lowered himself and washed our feet with his great love, we also shouldwash one another’s feet with his love. What Jesus commands us to do is not to reciprocate his love and service, but to replicate it in our daily life in the community of believers.[7]What John wants to tell us is that not just Jesus Christ can lower down to the bottom but, anyone, everyone, can be slaves.[8]
The Lord said that “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them”(v. 17).Blessed are those who comprehend Jesus’ words as a way of life. Believing in him is not just an intellectual exercise. It is rather a whole life lived in accordance with the word he utters.[9] The love of Jesus Christ that John testifies is neither emotional nor theoretical. The love that Jesus demonstrated was self-denial and the acts of self-sacrifice based on love. This is the essence of love that John speaks to us. Let us also not be a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal without love (1 Corinthians 13:1) but act out the truth as we wash one another’s feet with love.
[1] Chester Warren Quimby, John, The Universal Gospel (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1947), 175.
[2] Marrow, The Gospel of John, 228.
[3] Quimby, John, The Universal Gospel, 176.
[4] Tasker, The Gospel According to St. John, 155.
[5] Tasker, The Gospel According to St. John, 154.
[6] Barclay, The Gospel of John, 159.
[7] Marrow, The Gospel of John, 235.
[8] Quimby, John, The Universal Gospel, 176.
[9] Marrow, The Gospel of John, 233.