Being served by Jesus (John 13:1-17)

By Darren Moore

To say that the cross is at the centre of Christianity would be an understatement. It is central to how we relate to God and to each other. Jesus himself demonstrates both sides of this in the foot washing incident in John 13.

The situation: v1-5

John directs our attention to when this event happens. “before the Feast of the Passover”, the time Israel remembered God’s great redemptive act. Israel were saved from slavery, whilst the firstborn of each household in Egypt died. The difference between Israel and Egypt, was the blood of the Passover lamb on the door frames of each Israelite home. John constantly ties this event to the redemption Jesus brings at the cross. Related, “Jesus knew his hour had come”. “Hour” as distinct to time, John means the Jesus’ moment on the cross. John wants us to start thinking about the cross and salvation.

With that in mind, we see Jesus and his disciples at a meal, when Jesus gets up to wash their feet. This is a very practical useful task. But, also a demeaning one. First century middle eastern roads were dusty, dirty and contained animal waste. People lay towards a dining table, with feet pointing out. When visiting someone, you might be offered the chance to wash your feet, occasionally a servant might do such a task. Here, Jesus, eternal word who became flesh who was with and is God from the beginning, does the lowest job imaginable. In doing so he teaches us (at least) three important things about being a Christian.

1. Jesus Service Makes us Clean (v6-8)

Peter asks the obvious question, “what are you doing?” (v6). Jesus didn’t expect them to understand, but that they would after his resurrection (v7). Even so, it’s too much for Peter, he cannot be served by Jesus, surely Jesus must be served by Peter. And this makes total sense. However, look at Jesus’ reply, “if I do not was you, you have no share with me” (v8).

At least two things here are shocking. The first is that we do not serve Jesus, but he us! And this is not an isolated verse. Look up Acts 17:24-25, he simply doesn’t need us. Look up Mark 9:45 and Luke 12:37, Jesus came to serve. If that were not hard enough to swallow, we must accept this service, or we have no part with him. How so? Remember the context: Passover and “the hour”. This cleaning points to a greater cleaning. Without Jesus removing our moral filth we cannot be one with him and come to the Father. He does this at the cross, where he was stripped to bare our sin. It turns out this is not in fact about personal hygiene.

This is humbling. We have no service that Jesus needs, but we are helpless without him. We must accept this service to be forgiven and cleansed.

2.  Jesus Service Keeps us Clean (v9-10)

Having accepted, in principle, Jesus’ service, Peter blurts out, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and head!” (v9). If I need Jesus to clean me, I need a thorough work!

Jesus’ responds v10, “The one who is bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet”. Think back to our icky first century streets. Before going to dinner, you’ve had a bath, dressed in your best togs then traipsed through the yukky streets. On arriving your host offers you the opportunity to wash your feet, rather than take an entire bath. Only what is dirty needs cleaning. Much like today, our Mum’s remind us “dinner’s ready, wash your hands”, not “dinner’s ready, take a shower”.

Jesus and Peter’s conversation is now already on a different plane, using foot washing to point to something far bigger. So, why won’t Jesus wash all of Peter? Basically, we don’t have to keep being converted. The work of the cross puts us right with God once and for all, we stand before him righteous and “clean”. However, we do keep sinning, so to speak we get our feet dirty. We need to keep coming to Christ, asking forgiveness and cleansing. This is like 1 John 1:6-9. If we sin presuming on forgiveness, we’re in deep trouble. But, if we are in Christ and confess our sins they are forgiven. As the saying goes, keep short accounts with God. You’ve had your big clean, now keep coming to Christ for your, so to speak, dirty feet.

3. Jesus Service Teaches us Service (v12-17)

It jars with us that Jesus does not need our service, rather he serves us. It would be such an honour to wash his feet, or any other menial task… for him. For you? Forget it, was your own. But, that’s just the point that Jesus makes, “I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done” (v15). If the King of heaven can humble himself for his servants, well I’d better too. Not only so, but v17 we are blessed if we do them.

Remember, these events are in the upper room, just before his arrest and the chain of events that take us to the cross. At the time of the Passover, at his “hour”. The cross cleanses us and keeps us clean. But, also is a model for following Jesus. Humility and service. Sometimes in very humbling ways that frankly are going to impress nobody. But, those very acts carry the promise of blessing. What a bizarre world we live in when we can talk of “well known Christians”. The ones getting the accolades should be those cleaning loos and washing pews (what wonderful new vistas of service Covid has brought us).

Jesus does not need your service. But I do. Your church does. We need to stop thinking of how God needs us, he doesn’t. You need his service and must accept it. Then, serve your brothers and sisters. Particularly those you may, for some reason, have thought yourself in some way “above” and especially ways that are humbling to you personally.

Having said that, we are the body of Christ. When you serve the least of his, you do this for him. We need to cross to know God. We need the pattern of the cross to understand service.