John 25 Washing Judas Feet
WASHING JUDAS’ FEET
JOHN 25
In John 13 there is the account of an incident in Jesus’ ministry which only John records. This account tells of Jesus washing all His disciples’ feet, which was an act of profound humility.
The incident occurred when He, with the twelve, was celebrating the oldest feast observed by the Jews, older even than the giving of the Law. The disciples would partake of two feasts that evening: the first (the Passover) celebrated the fateful night in which God had commanded (through Moses) that every family among the Israelites kill a lamb, take blood from it, and put the blood on the lintels and doorposts of their homes.
That night an angel of the Lord would pass through the land and in every household where there was no blood, the firstborn in that house would die.
For those of Israel who followed the Lord’s instructions, the angel would “pass over” them and none would die in that household. It was a celebration of a feast of more than 1,500 years of celebration.
However, on that night Jesus established a new feast which was a remembrance of another Lamb (the Lamb of God) who would die and His blood save the one who had been “washed” in this blood. This would equate to being saved from eternal death, or eternal separation from God and all that is holy. For such ones, God would “pass over” their sins.
Between the observance of that “old” Passover and His institution of a “new” Passover, Jesus did a most remarkable thing. He took off His outer garments, filled a basin with water, and then began to wash each of His disciples’ feet. A great hush must have descended over the disciples as they perceived what their Master was doing.
Judas Was There ...
The story of Jesus washing His disciples' feet is a magnificent look into Jesus' whole worldview, a picture of what His ministry was all about. It's a glimpse of the humility and love that ultimately takes Him to the cross. It's a call and challenge to each of His disciples to lay down pride, status, and social hierarchies and submissively and humbly love. Love with kindness. Love with service. Love with action. "Love one another, even as I have loved you" (John 13:34).
But even more than that, it is a call to love and serve all. Even the sinful. The greedy. The unlovable. Those who have mistreated you. Or will mistreat you. Love even your enemies. Love and expect nothing in return. Serve without repayment. Be kind no matter what. That's what the cross is all about: Giving up everything for sinful humanity. Most of whom will not really care. Most of whom will not return that sacrificial love. Foot-washing and the cross closely mirror each other.
That's why Jesus washed Judas' feet. He was living out His own radical teaching. Read and really meditate on these words from Jesus:
“27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:27-36).
Judas was there. Judas had his feet washed just like everybody else. He wasn't skipped. He wasn't rejected. Even though he would not respond with kindness. It would not soften his heart. He wouldn't change his ways. Jesus still loved and served him. Because that's what Jesus does. That's who Jesus is. And that's our challenge to imitate.
Washing Judas' Feet
The more I read John 13, the more I see that Judas' feet are actually a focal point of the whole story. Notice how it begins: "During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon to betray Him, Jesus ... got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet" (John 13:2- 5). The whole story begins by focusing everyone's attention on the unclean heart of Judas.
Now, notice how this story ends: "When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, 'Truly, truly I say to you, that one of you will betray Me ... After the morsel, Satan then entered into [Judas] ... So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night" (John 13:21-30).
Immediately following the foot-washing, Judas leaves the meal to go betray Jesus. It is one of his last interactions with Jesus. It's sandwiched between Satan putting the sin into Judas' heart, then Satan actually entering fully into him. Not only is Judas in the beginning and end of the story, he's right in the middle of it.
Right in the middle, Jesus makes a brief comment about Judas, then continues washing their feet. Judas is at the beginning, middle, and end of the foot-washing narrative. That probably means we should reflect on him as we read.
When Jesus is washing their feet, Peter shouts, "You shall never wash my feet!" (John 13:8). Jesus' response is remarkable: 'If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me ... He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.' For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, 'Not all of you' (John 13:8-10).
The disciples had assembled to celebrate the first feast commanded of the nation. It was a feast of great significance and surely each of the disciples had bathed himself to participate in the feast. But wearing sandals as they did, their feet would have become dusty, thus Jesus’ words, “He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet.” The bodies of the disciples were clean, but their feet were dirty.
Judas Betrayed Jesus with Clean Feet
Jesus' kind act of service did nothing to stop Judas. It did not change his heart or mind. In fact, things escalated from there almost immediately.
It's wonderful to believe kindness can change people. It can and it has and it does. But not always. Judas' feet were cleansed, but his heart wasn't. Judas betrayed Jesus with clean feet and a filthy heart.
Earlier in John's life, this reality is foreshadowed in another foot-washing scene. Mary washes Jesus' feet with an expensive perfume, but Judas objects, saying she should have sold the perfume to provide for the poor. Then John gives the reader a little insider information: "He said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it" (John 12:3-6). These two foot-washing scenes fill in a lot of details about Judas, and none of them are good.
While reading John 13, it's important to notice the comparison taking place. On the one hand, you have Judas. He has been following Jesus for years now. He has seen incredible things: the hungry fed, the blind given sight, the lame healed, and the poor blessed. He has seen the signs but has rejected their significance.
He may like Jesus, but he loves money more, and he serves himself above all.
On the other hand, you have Jesus, the polar opposite. He was humble, selfless, and generous. He freely took upon Himself the job of a slave. He cared more about His disciples' feet than His own pride, status, or self-importance. Money, power, or fame didn't motivate Jesus. Self-giving love. That's who Jesus was. That's what Judas rejected. And that's what we are all challenged to embody.
MORE THAN CLEAN FEET
If you've been studying these lessons with us up to this point, it may be starting to sound like a broken record, but when reading the Gospel of John, you must look for meanings beneath the surface. There are things that physically and literally happen, but there are also hints and clues toward deeper layers the reader is supposed to pursue.
Jesus literally got on His hands and knees, literally took water and a towel, and literally washed at least twenty-four feet. This took time and effort. It was done with care. It was an act of service He wanted His disciples to experience and imitate.
I've seen a preacher scrub vomit out of the church carpet where a little girl got sick. I've seen Christians open up their home on Thanksgiving to the homeless for a warm family meal. I've seen disciples give rides to the elderly, repaint widow's houses, rake leaves, change light bulbs, fix appliances, repair cars, hold hands, pray, and physically wash those who cannot wash themselves.
I've seen the message of foot-washing lived out in the daily life of the church. While it's possible to emphasize the failings and misconduct of the church, it's essential to remember the good, kind servants. We must remember the foot-washers (1 Timothy 5:10).
That message and challenge must be seen in John 13. It must be lived out. At the same time, there is more going on here. Is it possible there is more than just a message of service? More than a literal foot washing? Perhaps a message about a different kind of washing that Jesus provides?
Symbolic Language and Foot-Washing
Read closely this exchange between Jesus and Peter: “6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean” (John 13:6-11).
There are a few clues alerting the careful reader to something deeper happening here. Notice first when Jesus says, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand." What does this mean? There is something missing at that moment only to be recognized by looking backward. You know the expression, hindsight is always 20/20? Sometimes, removing yourself from an event by time can help you see the event much more clearly. After the cross, perhaps the disciples will look back on the foot-washing and see it in a whole new way.
John sometimes lets the reader know about events that were not fully understood until some later point in time. Remember Jesus cleansing the temple? In this action, Jesus profoundly links His body to the temple, but it's a connection no one seems to understand. Even the disciples. However, John, the narrator, lets the reader know, "When He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken" (John 2:22). Only by looking backward were they able to understand and believe.
So when Jesus tells Peter "afterward you will understand," the reader should begin looking for something that might be missed during the foot-washing but that will come to light later.
A Share with Jesus
The second phrase we should notice is, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me." The word "share" means to be or have a part of something bigger. It is used for parts of clothing, parts of the body, parts of a land, etc. In order to have a part, or a share, with Jesus, He must wash you.
Peter, always one to go overboard (once literally), then jumps to the conclusion that the foot-washing is not enough. He tells Jesus to wash his hands and head also. He definitely wants to have a share with Jesus. Knowing this, Jesus reassures him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you."
Do you believe that? Literally? If you wash only your feet, will you be completely clean? Try it for a few weeks and see how the rest of you smells. Practically, hygienically, it won't work. The tone is changing here from literal water and washing to something else – some sort of washing that makes you completely clean and gives you a part with Jesus.
Hearing this and thinking physically (as is common in John), Peter misunderstands. He demands more than the washing Jesus provides, but is told what Jesus does is sufficient to make you completely clean. Just sit back and let Jesus lead. Let Him administer the washing. See what He does. In the end, rest assured, you will be completely clean.
Not All of You Are Clean?
Third, notice the phrase, "But not all of you [are clean]." This is about Judas (v. 11). This is the dead giveaway that we are no longer talking about literal foot-washing.
Jesus didn't skip Judas's feet or do a sloppy job or use dirty water. Judas's feet were as clean as everyone else's. However, his heart wasn't.
Jesus masterfully transforms the conversation into a discussion about the cleansing of sin, of impurity, a washing that gives you a share with Him. Judas received a washing but walked away without ever really being clean.
Water is almost always used symbolically in the Gospel of John. It is linked with baptism (John 3:5, 22-23), eternal life (John 4:14), the Holy Spirit (John 3:5, 7:37-39), sight (John 9:7), and the blood of Jesus (John 19:34). We think the foot-washing is no different.
The text hints towards a deeper and symbolic washing provided by Jesus, a washing that makes one completely clean and gives you a share with Jesus. Perhaps while reading this, it's appropriate not only to ask ourselves questions about humility and service to others but also about baptism, the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, and eternal life. Have you been washed by Jesus?