Just a few days after the triumphal entry, Jesus and His disciples met in an upper room to eat the Passover meal. Passover is a feast that commemorates God delivering the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. It included the death of a spotless lamb, a picture of Christ’s future work on the cross.
“And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.” (Luke 22:8-13)
Jesus sent Peter and John to find the upper room and prepare the meal for them. The house they found after following Jesus’ instructions seems to have been that of a believer. Perhaps even a secret believer. One who had great respect for Christ and his disciples but was not an open follower.
After the necessary arrangements are made, Jesus and the twelve meet together in the upper room for the meal. As they sat around the table, getting ready to eat. The Apostles got into a discussion about who would be the greatest in the kingdom.
“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.” (Luke 22:24)
“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” (John 13:3-5)
Jesus got up from the table and prepared himself to wash the feet of his disciples. As a custom, this was always done by the person of the lowest status in a group. A son would wash the feet of his father, a servant, his master, and so on. Jesus takes on this task himself to do it for his disciples. In this simple task, Jesus acts out a parable for them, one that they, I am sure, never forgot.
Let’s think about the details of the task. The creator of all things, “ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3) lays aside his outer garments and pours water into a basin, uses a towel as an apron, and wipes their feet clean. The men are lying down on pillows, ready to eat with their feet behind them. These men have been walking outside in the dust and dirt. Their feet were visibly dirty. One by one, He gently takes their dirty feet, pours water on them, and wipes them clean and dry. He washed the feet of the men who would preach the gospel to the world, and lead the early church. He knew what the future held for each one of the men. In doing this, Jesus was doing the most menial task in their society.
He also washed the feet of Judas, the betrayer. The feet of his enemy. Jesus lives out the example of loving your enemies for us. He knew what Judas was planing. Some think he washed Judas’ feet first to melt his heart and turn him from the actions he was about to do. We know that Christ cultivated close friendships. There is no reason to think it was any difference with Judas. He loved him as much as the rest, but it did not change what Judas had already determined to do. He had rejected Christ so entirely that he was willing to betray him.
Washing the feet of Jesus is something that all of them would have been willing to do. However, they would have had to wash the feet of the others as well. Not one of them wanted to place themselves in that position. They were too busy arguing about who was the greatest among them. They still did not understand what Jesus was going to do. That he would be taken, tried, and killed on a cross. They were thinking that they would be ruling with him in a kingdom.
What was Jesus teaching? First that they should be willing to serve each other in the most humble of tasks. Jesus was not just their teacher by words but examples. He showed them how to put others first, that the follower of Christ is one who is willing to do any task.
“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” (John 13:12-16)
The necessity of this lesson is made evident by their discussion of who would be the greatest. Greatness, superiority, dominance is what the natural man wants to achieve. If they still had this idea in their heads when Christ was gone, it would destroy them and the work they were left to do. Christ wants them to understand that the spiritual man thinks first on how he can serve others.
“And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:25-30)
Christ’s kingdom is not built upon the assertion of greatness and dominance. Its principle is kindness, love, and humility. Jesus wants us to change from desiring authority and fame to being a servant.
