Wash the feet

"Wash the feet" – John 13:14-15 Jesus was their Master and Lord, and they were absolutely right about it. The disciples had recognized this truth. But His example showed that the highest rank in the structure (organization, arrangement, and order of the parts within a whole; something that is eternally taken or understood, everything is absolute, there is no middle ground) of kingdom power is that of servant.

I. The last Passover of His life.

A. Washing the feet.

1. Passover is a reminder that there was no longer a yoke of the Egyptian masters over Israel.

2. Nearly a millennium and a half later, the Son of God was showing His disciples that the Passover was about something greater.

3. (Matthew 26:26-28; John 8:34-36) Here He shows that we have been slaves to sin and now Jesus at Passover this was the attitude (John 13:4-5) behind the payment. Jesus rose from supper, took off His robe and took a towel, girded Himself and then put water in a basin (earthen vessel) and began to wash the disciples' feet and rinse them with the towel with which He was girded.

4. Foot washing was the required act of a servant.

5. In a way, this person was even below a servant.

6. (Matthew 16:16) Peter, who had already come to recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, was not pleased with Jesus' act.

7. Peter tried to refuse (John 13:8), but Jesus tells him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no part with Me."

8. (John 13:15) (12) "Do you know what I have done to you?"

9. "You call me Master and Lord; and you say well, because I am."

10. "For yes, I the Lord and the Master have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet."

11. (15) "For I have given you an example, that as I have done for you, you also should do."

12. (15) Jesus set the example, "Do ye also."

13. Jesus institutes the supper; and (14) "If I, the Lord and the Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."

14. "I am your Lord and Master and therefore (therefore, since therefore as a result) you must learn from Me in this lesson."

15. The Method of Example (15) "For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, you also should do so."

16. Christ taught not only by word but by example, thus leaving us an exact copy of the holiness that God requires of us (2 Peter 2:21).

17. Washing feet (in Greek) which involves repeated action.

18. Jesus was not telling the disciples to wash each other's feet once, but repeatedly.

19. I can imagine that Jesus intended for these new symbols, the bread, the wine, and the washing of the feet, to remind His disciples of the spiritual significance.

20. There are crowds who gather to do exactly this: commemorate the death of Jesus Christ by eating the bread that symbolizes His body, drinking juice, symbolizing His blood, and washing one another's feet as a symbol of the attitude of humble service that Christ had.

21. Washing feet represents a "permanent attitude of humility."

22. In the world it is done once a year, the mentality of washing the feet, a mentality of humility and service, should be an ongoing habit throughout the year.

23. Jesus, who taught us to do foot washing, an annual practice, also gave us an example of an active life in service to others.

24. (John 13:15) "For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, you also should do."

25. It would be a way of life.

26. (Philippians 2:2-5) The apostle Paul urged the Philippians by saying, "Complete my joy by feeling the same, having the same love, with one accord, feeling the same thing."

27. When we see others as more important than ourselves, when we actively seek ways to serve their needs rather than our own, we begin to develop the mindset of humility and service that was also present in Christ Jesus.

28. The foot-washing mentality doesn't come naturally to most of us.

29. Serving others requires humility and effort.

30. Our human nature, naturally, leads us to put our needs first, before the needs of others; It takes effort.

31. Treat each other as true brothers.

32. The foot-washing mentality should lead us to serve others now, knowing that we are planting seeds of kindness, compassion, and generosity that will produce a future harvest. Amen