John 13:12-17

[Symes]

John 13:12-17

12When 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. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

What does this mean to you?

 

[Knight]

Christ gives His disciples and us an example of servant leadership.

Cultural context:
The washing of the feet was a common practice in that day before eating a meal. Reason being that most people wore sandals and their feet would get quite dirty. The task of washing feet always fell to the lowest servant. It was unthinkable to the disciples that Jesus, who was their teacher and Lord, to wash their feet. Therefore this is a wonderful example of leading through service.

Some denominations, like the one I grew up in, take this literally and actually partake in foot washings every now and then. Nothing wrong with this as long as the meaning of the passage is not lost.

 

[RVincent]

The cultural context that Knight mentioned in my opinion is related to the deeper meaning.

As we walk through life, we get dirty, we sin. Just as our Master did everything to make us clean, we should uplift our brethren who are trapped in sin:

(Gal 6:1-2) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. {2} Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 

[Knight]

Interesting.

I still think the base meaning of the passage is servant leadership.

However, if we back up a couple of verses I think we see something more like what you are talking about.

John 13:10-11 (NASB)
10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."
11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean."

We (Christians) are already clean, having been washed by the blood of Christ. However, because of our sin nature, we still need to get our feet washed by living in repentance.

This is a deep, profound passage.

 

[Symes]

This is a deep, profound passage.

It is very deep indeed. Many do not realize the significance of this act that Jesus did for the disciples and the example that He set in doing it to them.

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

It is a very humbling exercise to wash someone else's feet.

 

[Knight]

Are you asserting that this specific practice should be done by Christians today?

 

[Symes]

Are you asserting that this specific practice should be done by Christians today?

Jesus gave us this example and told His followers to do it, so yes I am saying that we should do it.

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

It the same as most things important, they have been high-jacked by tradition and left by the side of the road.

 

[tetelestai]

but is the only area in which we are to be servants in washing the feet? i think when we make it only about washing eachothers feet, we leave out the greater implications. if i dont wash your feet, but i am constantly in service to you and my other bretheren in Christ, am i not following the spirit of Christs act?

 

[Knight]

Where is the example of the NT church doing this?
It's no doubt that they served each other. This is plainly seen in Acts.

 

[Symes]

Where is the example of the NT church doing this?
It's no doubt that they served each other. This is plainly seen in Acts.

It does not say to my knowledge that they did this but they did break bread often. In doing so they would have followed what Jesus said to do.

 

[Knight]

Yes, as per the custom of the day they would have washed their feet prior to eating. It's probably a safe assumption that they traded this task around. Demonstrating service to one another. They also served each other in many other ways.

How is it that the specific practice of washing feet is applicable today?

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

Paul even expounds on this, he description in Ephesians 5:21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. stands as one of the best descriptors of what Christ was saying directly after the washing of the feet. I have been considering teaching on this in Sunday school and having my youth group wash each others feet. I have done it before and it is a humbling experience and really opens up Ephesians 5:21 and quite a few other verses with a new understanding.

 

[Andre]

John 13:12-17

12When 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. 13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

What does this mean to you?

This shows that we are to always humble ourselves and serve others, we are supposed to care for other people needs and wants before ours.
It also shows that no matter how "great" we are as a Christians we always need to serve others because Jesus himself did it, and if He who is the greatest humbled himself to do it how much more we, servants, should also humble ourselves. This means putting others before us.

In other words:

"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

This means love others more than you love yourself.

 

[deu58]

hello symes

Foot washing is a common practice in the SDA denomination and it does have its merits. At SDA camp meetings here in the Philippines I have participated in the footwashing ceremonies myself. At least here, one of the requirements for foot washing is you must select a stranger. you do not wash your wife/relative/close friends feet and yes it is a humbling experience.

yours in Christ
deu58

 

[Symes]

In my church we do it about 2 or 3 times per year, so it doesn't became something we do as routine.

Andre
You have made a good point. We do it four times a year for the same reason you have said.

 

[Symes]

Foot washing is a common practice in the SDA denomination and it does have its merits. At SDA camp meetings here in the Philippines I have participated in the footwashing ceremonies myself. At least here, one of the requirements for foot washing is you must select a stranger. you do not wash your wife/relative/close friends feet and yes it is a humbling experience.

yours in Christ
deu58

I am glad that you have participated in such a service and can see what a benifit it can be.

I like to wash my son's feet as I feel that it gives us a special bond that only fathers and sons can have.

 

[theseed]

That we should humble (if need be) ourselves to minister to each other (Christians)

 

[WesleyJohn]

.

 

[WesleyJohn]

.

 

[WesleyJohn]

.