Feeding the Lambs - Foot Wash or Full Bath?

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

'Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”'
John 13:1-11

[32nd message of the New Believer Series]

Last Supper

So the Apostle John wrote as we read from this passage that on the night Jesus was to be arrested and during His last supper with His disciples, Jesus washed all of their feet.

All four gospel writers mentioned this last supper, but strangely only John wrote about how Jesus washed their feet.

• Matthew 26:17-30
• Mark 14:12-25
• Luke 22:7-20
• John 13:1-30

Matthew wrote that:
Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 

Mark wrote:
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 

Luke:
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.

John mentioned Peter, Judas and himself were there (referring to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved). And inferring that the rest of the other disciples (or apostles) were there with them.

Betrayal

What is amazing about their last recorded supper together, is that Judas left after Jesus gave him his share of the bread they had to eat. (You could say that he had his meal to go.)

(On a serious note) Judas did leave but not before Jesus washed his feet, like all of the other disciples.

So Jesus washed the twelve pairs of feet of his apostles/disciples, including the one who Jesus knew would deny Him -- Peter and one who would sell Him out -- Judas.

Peter Being Peter

There was a short interaction that John didn't neglect to write about when Jesus was just about to wash the feet of Peter. (Peter and John seemed to have this spat between them).

And then there was a reference to Judas as the one who was not clean (now there might be more than one of them not clean though -- for Jesus merely said 'not all of them were clean').

Unimaginable But Can Be Understood

What is almost unimaginable was Jesus already knew that Judas was going to betray Him in a matter of hours, if not minutes but He washed his feet anyway, just like Peter's and the rest of the other disciples.

He showed that He is not One to exclude anyone from being a part of Him -- Jesus said, “unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

And right before that, Jesus told them, "you don’t understand what I am doing, but you will."

Even after Judas was going to betray Jesus, he still could be part of the Kingdom of God. (Remember, Jesus did wash his feet.)

Not Unless We Wanted No Part

Well unless if he himself wants no part of it. And God will not prevent that.

Each one of us has that choice to reject God's plan for us. Man has freewill. God includes everyone in His family but gives an out for those who wants out.

Up To Us

It's our choice. He will wash our feet but He will not give us a bath. Individually we each will have to decide if we would want to dip ourselves entirely under the warm baptismal waters to bury the old man and to resurrect the new.

Are you down?

Rebirth Series