Jesus Washes His Disciples Feet
Bible Study Guide
(Verse 1) Among the resounding theme of showing that Jesus is God, John weaves in the theme of love. We see this passage open up to the theme of Jesus’ love for his people. Even through all their rejection and lack of understanding, He loved them to the end.
It is also our responsibility as Christians, true followers of Christ, that we love His chosen people. It is our task to pray for and bless the Jewish people so that in us they will come to see and believe through our love, their true Messiah – Yeshua.
John will also close out this chapter on the theme of love. Through the New Testament, the scripture writers take a linear approach to how they record the events of Christ’ ministry. In John’s case, He uses a circular approach in his recordings.
As we see in this chapter, John begins on the theme of love and circles back to the same theme at the end.
John uses the word “love” six times in this chapter. To in beginning and the four times Jesus uses the word when He gives His disciples another commandment to follow.
In John’s first epistle he expands on this theme of love and uses the word “love” again 46 times. This theme continues into his other epistles. Throughout his five books John uses the word love over 100 times.
John’s three letters serve as wonderful teaching tools to us today as he beautifully expands on the meaning of what love truly means. I highly encourage you to read and explore John’s letters.
Who Was His Own?
John records that Jesus loved His own and He loved them until the end. The Jews were His own. Jesus was a Jew. Remember, He was not a Christian. Christ was not a follower of Himself.
Despite the rejection of the Jewish people and the fact that they did not love Him. He loved them right up to the end. God loves His people today as much as He’s going to love the tomorrow and in the future when He brings them all back to acknowledge Christ.
Why Did Jesus Wash His Disciples Feet?
(Verse 2) Satan had already set in motion through Judas the events that would unfold in the coming last hours of Jesus’ life on earth.
(Verse 3) John reminds the reader as would be appropriate in a book that was written to prove that Jesus is God in the flesh. Anyone who teaches that God is apart from Christ is a false teacher. The Father and the Son are interlocking.
(Verses 4-5) The washing of feet in Jewish culture was a sign of courtesy to guests coming into a home. At the same time, the act of washing the feet was considered the lowest form of servitude usually reserved for a slave.
Remember, Christ came as a humble servant for those who were sick with the sores of sin. This rag tag bunch of Galileans who followed Jesus were sinners whom Jesus was grooming so they could one day demonstrate the same love and humble service that He would ask them to employ in the work of spreading the gospel after He was gone.
After the resurrection, perhaps Jesus was also concerned that His disciples might carry an air of arrogance. Because they would be blessed with the Holy Spirit and with powers to perform miracles. It’s possible they might also consider themselves to not only be close followers of Christ but those chosen specifically by Him. This could lead to a boastful group of disciples. Therefore, Christ set this example for them to follow.
Simon Peter vs. Peter
(Verses 6-10) Notice, first Peter denies Jesus the opportunity for his Savior to wash his feet. These are harsh words for someone you place your full trust in and you dedicate your life to following.
Then once Christ explains that this must occur, Peter immediately jumps to the extreme. Peter doesn’t quite understand what’s happening and why Jesus is doing these things.
Notice how John intermingles Simon Peter’s name in these verses. In one sentence he used Peter and in the next, he uses the name Simon Peter. The name Peter means “rock.” Perhaps John is demonstrating through his actions that Peter has not yet fully earned the name Peter. In essence, John was correct.
At this moment in time, Peter was not the “rock” but rather in need of a Savior that would eventually transform him into the apostle Christ meant for him to be.
We’re about to see Peter deny Christ after his arrest. Peter was still a child spiritually and still had much to learn. Christ was about to make an example of him. Then after the resurrection, Peter, after being filled with the Holy Spirit would rightly own the name of Peter (the rock), given to him by Christ.
How Does Jesus Washing His Disciples Feet Apply to Us?
(Verses 11-17) As Jesus states, this washing of his disciples feet is an example that we must not only understand but also practice.
If we consider ourselves to be followers of Christ, we must submit to all His requests and commands. Then we must be prepared to humbly serve those around us. It is by lending ourselves humbly in service to our brothers and sisters in Christ and to our neighbors that we will be known by our love. Because God is love.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
(1 John 4:7-12)
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