David Johnson
Jesus takes a towel
‘NO! Jesus, you will never wash my feet’.
Reading
John 13.1-17
Thoughts
Peter’s response to Jesus resonates with us. We might even agree with Peter, to foot washing, no thank you, Lord.
Yet, Jesus responds to Peter, ‘Unless I wash your feet, you will not have any part with me.’
I come from a Pentecostal tradition in the US that practices foot washing.
I remember during Sunday night church services where the water basins were filled, and members went into different rooms to wash each other’s feet. I remember hearing the joy, the weeping, the Holy Ghost shouting.
This practice has had an ever-persistent impact on me.
But why foot washing? What does this mean?
In light of the day called Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday during Holy Week, a day when foot washing is practiced by different church traditions, let us consider foot washing in John 13.
The Gospel of John is unique in its telling of the story of Jesus.
When we expect to hear Jesus and his disciples partaking in the Lord’s Supper, the Gospel of John, instead, describes Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.
In John, the Last Supper is not so much a supper but an opportunity for Jesus to cleanse his disciples represented by washing their feet. He commands them, as I have washed your feet, wash the feet of one another.
John 13 describes a conversation between Peter and Jesus.
Peter rejects his master because foot washing was reserved for slaves and servants, not masters and teachers.
One key aspect of this scripture that I want us to think about is the contrast between ‘washing’ and ‘bathing’.
After telling Jesus, ‘NO’, Peter wants Jesus to wash his whole body, hands, head, and feet.
In response, Jesus says, Peter does need a bath, he is already clean completely.
Jesus in this action of washing the feet of the disciples reveals that this washing represents the cleansing of post-conversion sins, something after baptism. He is already ‘bathed’.
Peter and the disciples are already completely clean. They have been baptized. They believe in Jesus. However, they continue to walk in the world.
Walking in the world means that they sometimes get some dirt on them. This is what foot washing represents in John 13. It is a sign of continual cleansing to the community.
It is a sign, that we are clean, bathed, and baptized; however, sometimes while walking in the world, we get some dirt on us that needs to be washed off.
It is a sign of our continual cleansing.
Application
Consider practicing foot washing in your communities, perhaps, during an evening service or a small group.
If you are unable to participate in the practice, take time within your gathering to reflect on the fact that, while we have been baptized and are clean, we sometimes get dirt on us while walking in the world.
Take a moment to share some of these experiences in a trusted community.
Pray that as Jesus washed the feet of his disciples that he would continue to cleanse us.
Prayers
Lord God, creator of all things, we are thankful that you, our Lord and God, became flesh.
We are thankful that you continually clean us as we continue to walk in the world.
Jesus, we pray that as we have been bathed, baptized, and made new by your Spirit, that you would wash us as you washed your disciples. Amen.
Dr David Johnson is a New Testament lecturer at Regents Theological College, where he also teaches Greek, Pauline Theology, Gospel and Acts, and Biblical Interpretation. Regents is at the heart of the Elim Churches training programmes, and has been releasing people into ministry and mission for over 95 years.
These daily thoughts and responses are part of a series of eight by members of the Regents faculty covering Holy Week 2022. They were written with the idea that they can be to used as a personal reflection over Easter, or with home groups, and also as part of a wider church ministry.
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