Jesus Washes The Disciple’s Feet & More Teachings – The Last Supper Part 2.
Jesus washes the disciples’ feet and provides even more intimate teaching during The Last Supper according to Stephen March.
Jesus Talks to His Disciples During the Last Supper
We’re now past the halfway point in our series looking at one week in the life Christ, from Palm Sunday through to his resurrection. Last time we began to look at the last supper, focusing on the meal itself as well as the identification of Judas Iscariot as the one who would betray Jesus. This time, I’d like to take a closer look at Jesus’ interaction with his disciples, during and after the meal.
John is the one who records this in detail. Where Matthew, Mark and Luke devote a chapter or less to the last supper, John gives us five chapters on what happened that night, capturing some of the most intimate teaching Jesus had for his followers. It started, with an object lesson.
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
In John 13, we read that during supper, Jesus rose from the table, took a towel and a basin with water, and began to wash the feet of his disciples. There is a cultural context to this which helps in understanding what was taking place. Whenever a person went into a home, a basin of water was provided for them to wash their feet. Because they wore sandals and the roads were dusty, it was necessary for their feet to be washed before walking around barefoot in the house.
To not provide a basin for washing feet by the host would be an insult, but it would be unusual for the host to physically wash their guests’ feet for them, though an affluent host may have ordered his servants to perform the task.
In this passage, Jesus outright declares that this act was to show them the type of leadership to be displayed among his followers was one of servant leadership. This was of particular note, there have been instances, one recoded by Luke at this very meal, where the disciples would argue over who was the greatest among them.
Jesus Teaches Humble Leadership
Therefore Jesus, who truly was the greatest among them all, humbled himself to wash their feet. This would become even more clear to the disciples later, when their master and teacher would, as Paul writes, humble himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. This was a type of leadership that was displayed nowhere else, the religious leaders were seen as extremely proud and arrogant, the political leaders as Jesus said, would lord and flaunt their authority over the people. He said that for his followers, the one who is the greatest should make himself the least, and the leader as one who serves. A valuable lesson for those he was speaking to, and for all of us today.
Jesus also gives an indication of the type of salvation that he brings in. Peter, recognizing that he does not deserve this high honor Jesus is performing, says to him “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus responds that if he does not, Peter has no share with him, so Peter then says, to wash not just his feet, but his hands and his head also. To which Jesus responds that those who have bathed do not need to wash, except for their feet, because they are completely clean.” Jesus was about to die for the sin of mankind.
Sins Forgive and Eternal Life
The promise, again, was that anyone who believed in him would have their sins forgiven and be granted eternal life. They would be saved from the penalty of sin and death. Jesus is making it clear that this forgiveness was a complete, and permanent thing, that we could not lose that status of being saved, though there would be times even as believers that we will still fall, we will still sin, and will need to be corrected, to be cleansed from those day-to-day failings.
Jesus Predicts His Ascension
After dinner, Jesus began talking about what was to happen next, particularly his going away. He was of course referencing in a small way his death, but more accurately, his coming ascension into heaven. This was significant, as he had been with these men, teaching them and helping them, for about 3 or four years now. As such, he wants to give them some final instruction. The first of those instructions, was a simple one to say, but can be much harder in practice. In John 13:34 Jesus says,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34
Love the Hallmark of Disciples
Love was to be the hallmark of the followers of Jesus. And not just a love that is shown in kindness, but a true, genuine concern for others in all things. Jesus was about to die to save people from a lost eternity, from the punishment of death and hell, because he loved us. His command was that his followers would love others in the same way, a sacrificial love that would see us give of ourselves, for the benefit, practical and spiritual, of those around us.
Like I said, that isn’t always easy, especially since our human nature, our pride and sense of self worth, tends to get in the way. In the context, it is also a call for his disciples, and really anyone who believes in Jesus today, to recall the love Christ had for us, and conduct ourselves in like manner toward others. It means to let those around us see Christ’s love in us and through us.
His Father’s House in Heaven
From here, Jesus reveals where he is going, to his Father’s house. Earlier in this series, when Jesus cleansed the temple of the moneychangers, that was referred to as God’s house. Here it is clear that Jesus is not referring to the temple, but rather to God’s true dwelling place, in heaven. He was going to make a place ready in heaven, for all his followers, even those who believe in him today. It also allowed him to introduce two other teachings.
A Future Return
The first, is that Jesus is returning. Jesus was going to die, rise from the grave, ascend into heaven, but then at a still future time, he will return. In the Old Testament, it is referred to as the Day of the Lord, it will involve the final judgment of man on earth, but it will also be the time when those who believe in Jesus, will see their full salvation realized, as they are spared from final judgment. This is really just a very brief summation of the events of that day, and we won’t have the time to explore the fullness of it in this series. The other teaching, which is a bit of a new teaching, is that this future salvation is only available to man through Jesus.
He says,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”
John 14:6
This was a change from what the Jews believed and were taught, that salvation came through righteousness, which came through obedience to the law. Jesus’ claim was that he was the fulfillment of the law, and therefore faith in God, through faith in Jesus Christ, is what creates the righteousness in us that is necessary for our salvation. If we accept Jesus as our Saviour, we will be accepted by God. If we reject Christ, we will be rejected by God.
So, Jesus has now told them that he is going away, and that some time in the future he will come again, but they don’t know when he will return. These men who have followed him for such a long time, by this point, probably can’t imagine what they would do without him. Therefore, Jesus has another teaching for them. He does not want them to feel alone or abandoned. He knows that the days, and years ahead of them will be difficult, with many dangers and hardships.
A Teaching With a Promise
The next teaching he has for them also comes with a promise. It is for a helper that he will send, the Holy Spirit. This is a promise made to all believers, that we will have the Holy Spirit with us. This helper as Jesus calls him, will provide us with comfort, guidance, even understanding of the scriptures and the teachings of Jesus. He says in chapter 14 that
“he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 14;26
In short, the Holy Spirit will help us to get through this life in a way that is both honoring to God and encouraging to us.
Jesus Prays For His Disciples
There was much more that Jesus taught his disciple that night. I would encourage you to read through John chapters 13-16 for yourself to take it all in. At the end, in John 17, Jesus prays for his disciples, it is a beautiful prayer that reminds them how close they are to him. It was a comfort they all would need, for in just a few moments, everything that Jesus had spoken about his suffering, was about to begin.
When Jesus washes the disciples’ feet we see Him give practical teaching about servant leadership. Which teaching of Jesus means the most to you from those mentioned above? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Stephen March
Stephen March is the President of FBH International and HopeStreamRadio. He graduated from the Broadcasting Program at Niagara College in 2001, and has previously worked in television production and post-production.
Stephen lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, with his wife Corinne and their four children.
Read and hear more from Stephen March on his contributor’s page. Stephen currently has 5 Programs on HopeStreamRadio:
- Please Forgive Me
- Isolation Chronicles
- Faith By Hearing – The Twelve
- Bibles and Baseball
- Bible Tech Talk
More Podcasts Below:
More Blogs:
Palm Sunday, The Coming King, and the Last Week of Christ
Why Did Jesus Say “I Am the Bread of Life
Images courtesy of:
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet – Lumo
Basin & Water – Lumo
Sea & Rainbow – Kanenori
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