to betray Him, and that was why He said not everyone was clean. (Jesus also washed Judas’ feet). When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” Did you catch that? This may be the most important part of this text. Jesus doesn’t tell them that they need to serve Him because He has served them. That’s what we do…
HOW IT OFTEN GOES
It’s time we stopped making excuses and lived out our gratitude for Christ’s saving work on the cross by serving each other. power and authority upside down and Peter can’t comprehend what is happening…he has no category for it. In his commentary on John, Leslie Newbigin says, “It is the reaction of normal human nature. That the disciple should wash his master’s feet is normal and proper. But if the master becomes a menial slave to the disciple, then all proper order is overturned. This is a total subversion of good order as we understand it and as the smooth operation of human affairs seems to require. The action of Jesus subverts this order and threatens to destabilize all society.
20 SEVEN JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016
Peter’s protest is the protest of normal human nature.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (Jesus kindly but firmly lets Peter know that He is still the authoritative Christ who is in charge). “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” (Peter goes to the extreme, asking Jesus for a bath). Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For He knew who was going
We think people owe us when we serve them. We believe they are in our debt when we serve them. It looks something like this: “Where are they this morning? I helped them move with my truck… didn’t even take gas money and when I need them, they’re nowhere to be found.” “We always have others over for dinner. No one ever has us over.” “I’m always the first one at the church to (fill in the blank). This ministry would fall apart without me.” Jesus tells them to serve each other in gratitude for His serving them. The debt we owe Christ we pay to each other. That’s why we are commanded several times to love one another, serve one another, encourage one another, be at peace with one another and to carry one another’s burdens to name a few one another’s. Jesus is saying something like this: “All of you want to pay me back and all I’ve done is wash your feet. In a few hours I will die for you. Here’s how you pay me back…love and serve one another.’ Then Jesus says, “ I have set you an example that you should do as