22Hisdisciplesstared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, thedisciplewhomJesusloved,(AD) was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to thisdiscipleand said, “Ask him which one he means.” What does it look like, in practical terms, to live outJesus’ followhisexample ofwashingfeet? The specific passage of Scripture whereJesuswashesHisdisciples’feetcan be found in John 3:1-17 .
I know people who have a serious aversion tofeet. They cannot handle looking at barefeet, much less touching them. Thefootis considered one of the dirtiest places on the body.
JesusWashesTheDisciples’Feet(John 13:1-17). Say: Here we are at the Last Supper on the night beforeJesusknew that He was going to die. He was about to be betrayed by Judas, one ofHisowndisciples.
Soon,Jesuswould be beaten, made fun of, and nailed to a cross. The upper room scene, on the night in whichJesuswas betrayed, is the final Passover supper forJesusandHistwelvedisciples. The Apostle John records the act ofJesuswashingHisdisciples’feet, along withJesus’ teaching, and John’s own commentary (John 13).
We know that the Saviourwashedthefeetof Peter; but does hewashourfeetalso? We do not expect, of course, the literal transaction to take place; but is there anything in the conduct of Christ now analogous tohiswashingPeter’sfeetwhen on earth? [PETER sits down and letsJesuswashhisfeet.Jesusstands and addresses all] And you, mydisciples, you are clean. [looks around at eachdisciples, then at JUDAS, who lowershishead in shame] Though not every one of you. From this incident some practice “footwashing” as an act of worship, believingJesusordained such a practice to be observed byHisdisciples.
In some of the rites of Catholicism, the Popewashesthefeetofhisbishops, cardinals, etc. Charles Spurgeon discusses the account of ChristwashingthefeetofHisdisciplesand what our reaction should be. A Sermon Delivered on Sunday Morning, January 29, 1865, by C.
H. Spurgeon, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. JesusWashestheDisciples’Feet.
13Now before the festival of the Passover,Jesusknew thathishour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having lovedhisown who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
