Dirty Feet and Clean Hearts

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This is a sermon that is based on the account of the last supper that Jesus shared with His disciples in which he took a basin and washed the feet of the disciples. It focuses on the kind of washing they needed as well as the kind of washing they already had received - the washing of their hearts. 

Written Excerpts:

John 13:10 ^(NKJV) Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."

Introduction:

I want to speak to you today on a passage of Scripture that is familiar to us, but probably not often referred to. The passage that was read earlier in the service, John 13, relates the story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. We’ll talk about the lessons we can learn from this story in just a moment, but first I would like to address a question that sometimes comes up in connection with this passage.

Is feet-washing a required part of the ordinance of communion? You may already be aware that some denominations or some Christians say it is, and others say it isn’t. I am convinced that it is not to be understood as a necessary part of the sacrament; not to be seen as an ordinance or requirement.

1. Verse 15, “example” – lit. a pattern. Jesus is telling them that what He did for them is a pattern or representation of what they should do.

2. “do as I have done.” The word translated “as” is a comparative. It does not convey the idea of doing the exact thing, but something like it or compared to it.

In that culture, there was little else that would exhibit the spirit of humility like the act of washing someone’s feet. In our modern western culture, with the majority of people wearing protective covering for their feet, there are many other ways that humble service can be demonstrated for others.

In His explanation, Jesus seems to make much of the fact that He did this in light of His position as “Lord and Master” (v. 14). The emphasis seems to be on teaching a lesson about how position/status should not prevent service, not on starting a new ceremony or ordinance.

Now, as we look at this story, what does it reveal to us about Jesus, the Savior?

I.    It reveals something about the Savior’s knowledge.

A.  He knew the right time had arrived.

John 13:1 ^{(NKJV) 1} Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – In the earlier part [of John’s Gospel] we are told that things did not happen ‘because his hour had not yet come’ (2:4; 7:30; 8:20).

John 2:4 ^(NKJV) Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."

John 7:30 ^(NKJV) Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

John 8:20 ^(NKJV) These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

Starting in John 12:27, there are four different texts appearing later in John that indicate now his time has come.

When Jesus knew the time was right He proceeded with the significant actions to demonstrate His humility and love for His disciples.

B.  He knew His identity and destiny.

³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – Knowing this did not make him think he was above carrying out menial service. Knowing full well who he was, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet.

When we are secure in our identity, we don’t have to exercise superiority over others to “prove our worth” or to “show our status.” Knowing who we are in Christ, and being in relationship with the Father, gives us the confidence to assume the roles of a servant without feeling demeaned or humiliated.

C.  He knew the hearts of everyone.

John 13:11 ^{(NKJV) 11} For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean."

Because He was divine, He could tell the motives and intentions of men’s hearts. Thus, He knew His betrayer. Judas is not the only one Jesus knows. He knows every one of us, including the deepest needs of our hearts and lives.

II.  It reveals something about the Savior’s love.

John 13:1-3 ^{(NKJV) 1} Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – Jesus’ love was expressed not only in performing the menial service of foot-washing but also in what this act symbolized: his humiliating death upon the cross by which spiritual cleansing was made possible (this becomes clear as the story unfolds).

We are told by one author that the word “example,” we mentioned earlier that is used in verse 15, was a word that was used in extra-biblical literature (2 Maccabees) in close relation to the “example of death.” Brave martyrs are described as having provided an “example” to others.

So, the act of washing their feet, being an example to them, clearly could have had an additional reference to His pending death for them as well.

“loved them to the end” – (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) The evangelist’s statement that Jesus loved them ‘to the end’ can be construed in two ways: (1) adverbially, meaning to the uttermost, or as the NIV has it, ‘he showed them the full extent of his love’; (2) temporally, meaning to the end of his life, i.e. Jesus’ love for his disciples did not fail; it persisted to the last moments of his life. Perhaps there is intended ambiguity here, for Jesus did indeed show the full extent of his love, and he did so until the end of his life.

This act of washing the disciples’ feet was an act of service streaming from a heart of love. Remember this: love for others is not merely demonstrated by nice words, but also by sacrificial service.

III.  It reveals something about the Savior’s gift.

The Savior’s gift is implied in the words of Jesus to Peter after Peter had resisted having Jesus wash his feet.

John 13:10 ^(NKJV) Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."

(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) – The cleanliness Jesus was speaking about was forgiveness of sins, which makes people fit to have fellowship with him, fit to enter the presence of God. The disciples were already clean in this sense because they had accepted Jesus’ word... Later, Jesus would say to his disciples, ‘You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you’ (15:3).

In the first part of the Lord’s reply, He obviously seems to be speaking in a literal sense: Those who have bathed before leaving home to come to the meal need only to have their feet washed because of the dusty roads.

However, the second part of the reply: “you are clean,” seems to have a separate, higher meaning. Thus, a reference to the gift of salvation/redemption provided by His upcoming death.

The disciples may have had dirty feet, but they had clean hearts.

Conclusion:

As I was thinking about this humble display of love and service that Jesus did for His disciples, I thought about the fact that we sometimes use the phrase “getting our hands dirty” when we speak about hard work or lowly tasks. Perhaps my sermon title should have also included the phrase “dirty hands” to emphasize the aspect of doing hard or humiliating work for others.

When we remember the awesome example of humility and service that Jesus provided, and we remember the gift of redemption He provided, we need to live out our lives in demonstration of gratitude by following His example. The highest form of devotion and honor we can show towards someone is to mimic their conduct and attitudes.

How will you, how will I, demonstrate our love and gratitude for Christ’s sacrificial love?

Before we share the elements of communion today, let us take our Praise and Worship Hymnals and sing the hymn: Here at Thy Table, Lord