I'm stomped on this scripture in John

[super_mog]

John 13
[10]Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
[11] For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

1. Is Jesus saying he is clean every whit?
2. Was Peter not clean even after Jesus washed his feet
3. What does he mean when he says "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet?"
   

 

[Treasure the Questions]

Try a more modern translation:

John 13

Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. (NIV)

or a paraphrase

John 13
Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") (The Message)

If you walked around dusty roads in open sandals your feet would need a wash even if you'd had a bath that morning.

Likewise if our sins have been forgiven us, we still need to be forgiven for the sins we commit "walking around" in everyday life and need a spiritual footwash or ongoing forgiveness.

 

[Crazy Liz]

You might want to think about whether these verses from John's letter relate an any way to what the same author wrote in one of his letters:

[bible]1 john 1:9[/bible]

It is possible that having been washed is an oblique reference to salvation/baptism? If so, footwashing is an oblique reference to ... what???

And is it meant to become a liturgical practice?

 

[daveleau]

Peter was already cleaned by Salvation through Faith in Christ. He did not need the entire cleaning because Peter had already had it and it is everlasting. Peter merely needed a touch-up and needed the sins he had committed cleaned from his slate.

Foot washing was a cultural phenomenon that no longer means what it did in the days of Jesus. People walked around in sandals and when they walked into a house, the servant would wash their feet that had gotten dirty on their journey. Today, this is not necessary. The cultural equivalent of what Jesus did is simply to serve. We are to serve others regardless of the task. For instance, in my profession, I often hear that "X" duty is beneath the status of an officer and we should not do it. This is completely opposite of what Jesus tells us. We are to serve and no position is too low for us if we are doing it in pure-hearted servitude to ward others.

This Scripture has two meanings, of course. 1- Salvation is not taken from us by sin, but we do need cleansing of sins that we have committed since being Cleansed by the Spirit, or else the Spirit will not work as effectively through us. And 2- We are to serve in any and every capacity, regardless of what we think our stature is.

God bless you,
Dave

 

[mark kennedy]

The confusion comes from Jesus switching meanings on Peter. This is what is called the last supper and they are all arriving in the Upper Room from the dusty streets below. Since they didn't normally use chairs in those days eating dinner with 13 guys with unwashed feet isn't a very appetizing prospect. When they arrive the Apostles are arguing amongst themselves about who is the greatest, they had expressed confusion about this sort of thing before. Jesus realizing that they had a problem with vain ambition teaches them a lesson in humility, by washing their feet, which is the role of a servant.

When Jesus got to Peter, Peter simply refused to let Jesus wash his feet. Peter had an argument with Jesus over this very thing once before and Jesus called him Satan, that is how serious Peter's problem was. You have to understand that the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is servant to all, as opposed to a worldly concept where everyone serves the king. So Jesus whom Peter fully realizes is King takes on the role of a lowly role of a servant and Peter is rebuking Jesus because the King is doing something Peter feels is beneath his station in life. Jesus tells Peter that I am either going to wash your feet or you can get out!

Peter panics and says, and mind you I'm paraphrasing, No Lord wash all of me. What Jesus says is kind of humorous if you really think of it, He says, but Peter only your feet are dirty why would I give you a bath? Peter did a good job realizing that this was a spiritual lesson but he wasn't getting the message. Lets take a look at the passage you are having trouble with:

"*Jesus says to him, He that is washed all over needs not to wash save his feet, but is wholly clean; and ye are clean, but not all. *For he knew him that delivered him up: on account of this he said, Ye are not all clean."
(John 13:10,11, 1890 Darby Bible)

Did you notice that Judas is mentioned? Judas had a problem with vain ambition as well and it had finally destroyed him. Jesus told them that they would not understand this lesson until later but Peter refused to be taught because he thought he allready knew everything. The posters seem to have made the insight that this passage is a lesson on sanctification (the washing, renewing and regeneration of the Spirit, see Titus 3:1-6) but so did Peter. The insights are all good but I am concerned that the context of the verse in question has been neglected and that is where the confusion came from in the first place.

What was making Peter dirty, his feet or his heart? The real answer is both, but the feet problem is easily fixed, the heart however is considerably more complicated. Did you ever stop to think, Jesus washed Judas' feet and Judas walked out the door and betrayed him. At least one of them never got this lesson, Jesus said that it would better for him that he had never been born. If you want to learn the meaning of this passage, go wash someone's feet.

Now for your questions:

Is Jesus saying he is clean every whit?

I think what he is saying is that one of you was never cleaned, note the reference to Judas. It is also a kind of humorous statement that only your feet are dirty.

Was Peter not clean even after Jesus washed his feet

Peter was allready clean through the washing of the Word of God that he had accepted by faith.

"*Husbands, love your own wives, even as the Christ also loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up for it, *in order that he might sanctify it, purifying it by the washing of water by the word"
(Ephesians 5:25,26)

What does he mean when he says "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet?"

It means both that only Peter's feet are dirty and the even though you saved by faith the moment you recieve the Gospel, there are still sins that will try to choke out the Word of God in your heart. (See Mark 4:1-20)

Grace and peace,
Mark

Wait! I just thought of something! Remember how John said that he was not worthy to unloose the sandles of the one who would come later? That passage has baffled me but now it makes sense, John is saying that he isn't worthy to take off his sandles, let alone wash his feet. Imagine how supprised John would have been to learn that the Messiah came to wash his feet. When Jesus came to be baptised John did say that he needed to be baptised by Him.

 

[JohnJones]

You might want to think about whether these verses from John's letter relate an any way to what the same author wrote in one of his letters:

[bible]1 john 1:9[/bible]

It is possible that having been washed is an oblique reference to salvation/baptism? If so, footwashing is an oblique reference to ... what???

And is it meant to become a liturgical practice?

You mean something like: The priests in the Old Testament, when they were consecrated to be priests they washed their entire body. When they came everyday to the tabernacle to offer sacrifice they washed their hands. So, when consecrated to be Christians we are baptized but we must daily confess our sins.

 

[Svahnn]

Hi!
I'm quoting here from the NKJV study Bible. John 13:9-11. But also my hands and my head: Given Jesus' dramatic statement, Peter had no choice but to submit. Only this time he went too far in the other direction. At first he wanted to tell the Lord what to do (v.8). Now he wanted to dictate the manner in which Jesus did it. But Jesus told him he did not need a bath; he only needed Jesus to wash his feet that were dusty from the road. This is symbolic. A believer has already been ''cleansed." He or she only needs the cleansing of daily sins that comes through confession (see 1 John 1:9). Thus Jesus' washing of the disciples feet not only is a model of service, but it represents the ultimate in service-forgiveness of sins. 13:11 You are not all clean: This is the second indication of the presence of a traitor among the apostles (6:70). Apparently this comment did not attract much attention. Hope this helps ya..Svahnn