124. The Foot Washing

John 13:1–20

(Matt. 26:1–5, 14–19; Mark 14:1, 2, 10–16; Luke 22:1–14, 24–30)

The three evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke report further what happened two days before Easter, before the Passover. The Jewish Passover fell between the 15th and the 21st day of the first month or month of Nisan. The 15th of Nisan, the first day of the festival, was a Friday this year according to John 19:31. The second day before the festival was therefore Wednesday, the 13th of Nisan. On this day Jesus remained quietly with his disciples in Bethany and announced to them that he would be crucified in two days. On this day the chief priests, scribes and elders again held a council meeting under the chairmanship of the high priest Caiaphas and agreed to use this opportunity, as Jesus was going in and out of Jerusalem, to catch him by trickery and kill him. Only they wanted to carry out their plan after the week of the Feast, so that there would not be an uproar among the people, among the large crowd of pilgrims. On the same day Judas Iscariot also went and made an agreement with the members of the high council to betray Jesus to them for thirty pieces of silver or denarii. That was the usual price for a slave. It often is a dirt cheap price with which one who is called a Christian sells his Christianity. From that day on, Judas also looked for an opportunity to hand Jesus over into the hands of the Jewish leaders. The Scripture expressly emphasizes that the devil had put the idea of ​​betrayal into Judas’ heart (Jn 13:2) and that Satan had entered into him (Lk 22:3). Judas had long since abandoned the faith, given over to greed, become a thief, hardened himself against all the serious warnings contained in the Lord’s last words to him. And so he had now given himself over to Satan’s power and become his compliant tool. Woe to a person if it has come to this!

Sacred history continues with what happened on the day when the Jews slaughtered the Passover lamb, that is, on the 14th of Nisan, the Thursday of that great week. This day was also called the first day of the sweet bread. The Passover was also called the feast of the sweet or unleavened bread, and because the leaven was removed from the houses on the evening before the feast, at the Passover meal, the 14th of Nisan was also counted among the days of the sweet bread. On this day Jesus sent two of his disciples, John and Peter, from Bethany to Jerusalem. There they would meet a man with a water jar, whom they should follow and, wherever he entered, say to the innkeeper: “The Master says: Where is the inn where I may eat the Passover lamb with my disciples?” This innkeeper was probably an acquaintance, a friend of Jesus. He would show them a large plastered hall where they were to prepare the Passover lamb. The two disciples found it and did as the Lord had told them. On this occasion too, Jesus let his divine omniscience shine. Yes, he is the Lord, he prepared everything himself for his suffering and death. The evil counsel of the Jews would not have gone ahead if he had not agreed. And he also determined the time of his death. He wanted and was to die on the very feast.

In the evening, Jesus himself came to Jerusalem and sat down with the twelve apostles to eat the Passover lamb with them. Before the meal began, the feet of those who were sitting at the table, or actually lying at the table, were washed. This task was usually carried out by the slaves in the house. But behold, here the Master himself rises to perform this service for his disciples. We must assume that a dispute over rank among the disciples, which the evangelist (Lk 22:24–30) tells of, gave him the immediate reason for this. The Lord reminded his disciples of what he had already impressed upon them earlier, that greatness in the kingdom of heaven consists in service, for whoever serves him faithfully here will rule with him there (Cf. Mt. 20:25 ff.; Mt. 19:28). But with this he reinforced his warning with action, by his example. Jesus knew that his hour had come, that he was leaving the world to go to the Father, that he had come from God and was going to God to enter into the full use of his divine power and majesty. He knew what Judas had in mind. With full awareness, according to his own free decision, the eternal Son of God is going towards death. But before he left the circle of his disciples, he showed them one last act of love. He rose from the meal, laid aside his garments, put on a towel, poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and then to dry them with the towel. He neglected nothing that was part of that service. But when he came to Simon Peter, the latter refused to let his master wash his feet. Jesus replied: “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.” With these words he already indicated the actual meaning and purpose of this act. The external washing was meant to indicate a spiritual washing, the cleansing of sins. Only those whom Jesus washes and cleanses of sins have a part in him. The Lord was actually about to cleanse our sins through himself. “He speaks of the washing that he did with his blood on the pillar of the holy cross, and which was to be distributed to believers through the gospel and holy baptism” (Luther). Of course, the disciples did not yet understand what their master was doing to them, but only discovered it later. How ignorant Simon Peter still was at that time is shown by his further speech: “Lord, not the feet only, but also the hands and the head.” Jesus said to him: “He who is washed need only to wash his feet, for he is completely clean; and you are clean.” From this it is clear that the washing of feet was a symbolic act. The disciples of Jesus, the believers, are already clean. “You are now clean because of the word that I have spoken to you” (Jn 15:3). They have received Christ’s word in faith, and so they are pure and righteous before God. Nevertheless, believers still need a cleansing, such as the washing of the feet. Through the washing of the feet, the dust and dirt that had settled on the feet while walking was washed away. So all kinds of sin still settle on the walk of Christians as they go through the world. And now the faithful Savior also renders His own the service of continually cleansing them from their daily, ongoing sins. The Lord added: “But not all of you” are pure. For he knew his betrayer. The disciples who have again become servants of sin and slaves of Satan have lost the cleansing of their sins. After Jesus ​​had washed the disciples’ feet, put on his garments and sat down again, he explained that he had given them an example by what he had done. The washing of the feet also has an exemplary meaning. Just as Jesus, their Lord and Master, washed their feet, so his disciples, the believers, should also wash one another’s feet, serve one another, not be ashamed of even the smallest acts of service, should forgive one another for what he has wronged and help them to correct their mistakes. “But listen, when you see such a need in your master, wife, child, servant, neighbor or others, wash his feet, that is, take advantage of his infirmity, and see how you can put him in order.” (Luther) This is indeed a difficult but nevertheless blessed service. “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” The Lord again speaks of the traitor. “I am not speaking of all of you. I know whom I have chosen,” that is, have chosen for salvation. “But that the Scripture might be fulfilled: He who eats bread with me has trampled on me underfoot,” actually: has lifted up his heel against me (Ps 41:10). The traitor is also included in the number of apostles. And again Jesus shows how much importance is attached to such services, which he recommended to his disciples by his example. Whoever welcomes a disciple of Jesus and lovingly cares for him, welcomes Christ and the Father of Christ.