Another Look At The Foot Washing

THE CONTEXT OF THE FOOT WASHING

References to Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples of Jesus whose feet he washed, bracket the narration of the foot washing and form the immediate context for it. (John 13:2; 13:18) The references describe a disciple whose heart is not clean, and who trespassed against Jesus by an action of his foot.

Just before the narration of the foot washing, we have a reference to the spiritual condition of Judas: “the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot to deliver him.” (John 13:2) Just after the narration, we have an allusion to an act performed by Judas while he was under that influence of the devil: “[he] has lifted up his heel against me.” (John 13:18) The act to which Jesus alluded was the making of a covenant to deliver him to the chief priests. (Matthew 26:14,15,16) That act was a trespass against Jesus.

THE PURPOSES OF THE FOOT WASHING

Jesus taught his disciples to forgive the trespasses of others. (Matthew 6:14) He taught them also, if a brother trespass against you, then go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. (Matthew 18:15) The foot washing is the response of Jesus to the trespass against him by Judas. The foot washing gives the disciples of Jesus an example of how they should respond to the trespasses of one another.

HOW JESUS REVEALED HIS FORGIVENESS

Washing symbolizes the removal of offenses. Jesus associated the trespass of Judas with an action of the foot when he paraphrased Psalms 41:9: “[he] has lifted up his heel against me.” (John 13:18) Jesus conveyed to Judas his message of forgiveness when he washed the heel that Judas knew was lifted up against him.

HOW JESUS TOLD JUDAS HIS FAULT BETWEEN HIM AND JUDAS ALONE

When Jesus began to wash the feet of his disciples, none of them understood what he was doing. The case of Simon Peter is stated explicitly. (John 13:7) Likewise, none of them understood when he said that they were not all clean . . . except Judas. (John 13:10) In a spirit of ill will, Judas had made a covenant to deliver Jesus to the chief priests. (Matthew 26:14,15)  Furthermore, he had come to this supper looking for an opportunity to deliver him. (Matthew 26:16) If Judas had any doubt that this was the uncleanness to which Jesus referred, that doubt was erased when Jesus paraphrased the Psalm: “[he] has lifted up his heel against me.” The offense of having one's heel lifted up against another described clearly enough for Judas his offense in looking for an opportunity to deliver Jesus. While Jesus was assembled with the twelve, he told Judas his fault effectively, and, in the telling, he kept the affair between him and Judas alone.

THE EXAMPLE WHICH JESUS GAVE TO HIS DISCIPLES

If I then, your Lord and Master, have forgiven the one among you who trespassed against me, you also ought to forgive the trespasses of one another. (John 13:14) If I then, your Lord and Master, have gone to my brother who trespassed against me, and told him his fault between me and him alone, then you should go to your brother who trespasses against you, and tell him his fault between you and him alone. (Matthew 18:15)

If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. (John 13:17)

I offer this look at the foot washing only in my own name.