The well-known moment when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples was done in humility and servanthood, in order to show love, and pave the way for the most important commandment: ‘love one another’ (John 13:34). True leaders serve in humility, demonstrating what true love is, and set the example and framework of love in their community. Leaders are servants.
Feet Washing
Jesus ‘got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded’ (John 13:4–5). Jesus the Master, Lord and Teacher, did the work of a servant: washing the feet. In a world of dusty roads and wearing open sandals (cf., Genesis 43:24; Judges 19:21), washing feet was common at the time, but done either by the guests themselves with the water and towels the host would provide, or by servants washing the feet of the guests. It was a sign of hospitality and respect towards the guest, providing for them so they could refresh themselves after tiering journeys on foot or on donkeys’ backs (cf., Luke 7:44–46). What Jesus did was remarkable and shows His humility and meekness (cf., Matthew 11:28–30).
There was another famous feet-washing situation in the life of Jesus and it took place in the house of a host who did not provide Jesus with water and towels, neither with refreshing oil or a welcoming kiss, as was common at the time. The host did not do what was culturally appropriate and honourable towards a guest. The most unlikely person, however, did the feet-washing: a ‘sinner’! A woman, fallen into a rough life through wrong decisions, came and washed Jesus’ feet with a perfume and her own tears—she sought forgiveness through humility and repentance (see Luke 7:36–38). At the time, rather than sitting on chairs at a table, they would be reclining at a low table and would have their feet behind them, pointing away from the table, not having the feet under the table. The religious host was appalled by both the ‘sinner,’ and by Jesus, who did not seem to recognise ‘what sort of person this woman is,’ and she even touched Him—she washed His feet with her hair (v 39). The man had contempt for both of them, although Jesus showed love for and humility towards a repenting sinner seeking forgiveness. This demonstrated the nature of God and His love and forgiveness. Jesus came to save a sinful world, not to condemn it, to demonstrate God’s love and kindness. He carried our sin so we won’t be condemned for it—that is the Gospel!
Jesus, observing the reactions, shared a parable with his learned host. It was about two people in debt, one with a huge debt, the other with a small debt. Both were released from their debts by a generous lender. The question then was, who loved more? The host got the point: the one with the huge debt (vv 40–43). Jesus used this as a comparison between the religious host and the sinful woman doing what the host failed to do (vv 44–45). She loved much because she was forgiven much! Her humility in repentance provided God’s gracious forgiveness (vv 47–50). Jesus came to seek and save what was lost (see Luke 19:1–10) and show mercy to repentant sinners. He came to save the world, not condemn it (John 3:16–17). Simon the religious host, as others like him, had to learn the words of the Hebrew prophet: ‘I desire compassion and not sacrifice’ (Hosea 6:6), as Jesus came to bring health and healing to a world lost and hurting because of sin (Matthew 9:9–13). And yes, some of those incidents were controversial to some and caused mixed reactions, but all of it was an expression of God’s love.
The event at Simon’s house was not the only time when there was a mixed reaction. Just before Jesus’ death on the cross, another woman poured costly oil over the Messiah’s head and His disciples were upset over what they considered a ‘waste.’ Jesus had a different perspective: the woman ‘has done a good deed to Me,’ anointing Him for His death and burial—that memory would be a blessing (see Matthew 26:6–13). It’s remarkable how the disciples had such a different perspective from their Master. Their Master and Messiah’s death was the death that would bring salvation to humanity—costly oil is appropriate for the occasion. The Lamb of God would carry the sins of the world in humility and love. Jesus the Saviour came to lay down His life for others. The Master served; leaders serve.
Servant Leadership
Jesus was a servant-leader. He didn’t come to rule over people, but to serve and give His life for others (Mark 10:43–45). Jesus was the good Shepherd who would lay down His life for His sheep (John 10:11–14). This was the leadership example He set as the Chief Shepherd for the shepherds of His flock (1 Peter 5:1–5). His suffering was also the example He gave of how the believers should handle suffering (1 Peter 4:12–19). Jesus washed the disciples’ feet to show humility and servanthood as the pattern of leadership. He was the true Shepherd after God’s own heart and so were His disciples and shepherds to be (Jeremiah 3:15). True shepherds protect and edify the people under their care (John 10), they don’t expose and exploit them as false shepherds do (Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34).
John sets the feet washing by Jesus of His disciples in the context of the Passover (John 13:1). Jesus would give His life during the very Jewish feast that commemorated God’s deliverance of His people from the slavery in Egypt in the time of Moses (Exodus 1—20). This was no coincidence: Jesus is the Passover Lamb who carried our sins so we can be delivered from the slavery of sin (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). The symbolism is powerful. God would deliver His people from slavery—the slavery of sin. Jesus was the Redeemer. He is the Truth and the Son who sets us free through the truth in His word—if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed (John 8:31–36). As a true leader, He would lay down His life for God’s people. As in the days of Moses, God was once again calling, ‘Let my people go!’
Another aspect of the context of Jesus’ feet washing is His love. Jesus, knowing His hour to die for the sins of the world had come, loved His own to the end (John 13:1). His love never fails. His love is powerful. Despite the impending crucifixion and pain of betrayal, Jesus loved to the end! Love wins—always. Don’t allow pain and betrayal to stop you from loving others. Jesus had been sent for the purpose of dying for the sins of the world, and now His hour had come—His love would make Him pay the ultimate price: death on the cross to pay the price for sin in order to save humanity from their sin. That is the Gospel. He also knew that this was part of God’s plan and He would be safe again (v 3). And this despite the third aspect of the Johannine context: betrayal! Judas had joined the devil’s camp and the result was betraying Jesus unto His death (v 2). Yet this would not hinder the loving Saviour to be the Passover Lamb and die for the sins of the world because of God’s love for humanity (John 3:16–17). Betrayal is part of life, but God can use it for His purpose nevertheless. Christ’s death brought forth life! Love empowered Him to go all the way and give His life. Jesus didn’t abandon God’s purpose because of the betrayal; He accomplished God’s purpose through His love.
In Luke’s account of Judas’ betrayal, the emphasis is on the ‘blood money,’ the cash he was paid to betray Jesus. It had to be done in secret because of the crowds objecting to the Messiah’s arrest due to His popularity (Luke 22:1–6). Jesus was preparing His disciple for His impending crucifixion, indicating that the bread and the wine of the Passover meal point to His crucified body and blood for the forgiveness of sin in the new covenant (vv 7–22). Jesus also had to deal with Peter’s impending denial (vv 31–34) and short while later, the Saviour found Himself in great agony while praying. No matter what He had to go through, He would remain faithful to God’s will and purpose (vv 39–46). In the context of His impending death—the most brutal form of execution—the disciples, rather than showing compassion and support for their Master, got into a ‘dispute’ (v 24) of who the greatest was among them! The disciples, after arguing about greatness and positions of authority, were a little later asleep in Jesus’ agony during prayer. Sometimes we are alone in our agony, yet God is right there with us—He hears those who pray sincerely for God’s will with godly fear (Hebrews 5:7).
Jesus, rather than getting irritated by their insensitive behaviour, foolish dispute and sleepy weakness, took it as an opportunity to reiterate the importance of servant leadership: ‘the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant’ (v 26). Jesus Himself, although Master, was ‘as the one who serves’ (v 27). We must not seek to be great (like the Gentiles), but to serve others in selfless love and sacrifice—like Jesus! Eternal rewards will come to those who do things the Kingdom way (vv 28–30). In God’s Kingdom, leadership is not about power and privilege, but all about love, humility and faithfulness. As a leader you don’t demand respect because of your position; you earn it by service and laying down your life for others in humility and love. Leadership is about competence/skill and integrity (Psalm 78:72). But such leadership and servanthood require purity.
Purity
When Jesus was about to wash Peter’s feet, he asked: ‘Lord, do You wash my feet?’ (John 13:6, emphasis added) and then he even objected: ‘Never shall You wash my feet’ (v 8). But Jesus made clear to him that this was more than hospitality; it symbolised spiritual purity and it was necessary (vv 7–8). Peter agreed (v 9). Judas, however, was not clean (vv 10–11, 18), having ‘sold his soul to the devil,’ if you will. It’s crazy what people are willing to sacrifice for fame and fortune! We should rather stay within God’s purpose and trust His provision. Jesus did not ‘sell His soul to the devil’ during the temptation—He would serve God and God only. He would have no other gods before Him. He would endure whatever suffering He had to face and then receive what God had prepared for Him (Matthew 4). Purity is essential in all things pertaining to the Kingdom, but especially in leadership. The feet washing was symbolic of being cleansed and pure, fit for the Master’s use. As a vessel for God to use, we are to ‘pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace’ with ‘a pure heart’ (2 Timothy 2:20–22).
After the feet washing, Jesus asked the disciples whether they understood what He had done (John 13:12). The example of the Teacher and Lord was the example to follow (vv 13–15). True leaders ‘wash the feet’ of others: they lead by example in love, humility and servanthood. Feet washing was an expression of humble service with a pure heart of love. This was to be the trademark of Kingdom leaders and true shepherds. It was not about celebrity status or fame and fortune. Following the Messiah’s example is the way.
A servant and minister must know his or her place (v 16). There is a blessing in knowing these things and doing them (v 17). Knowledge without application is no good. Jesus had taught about the importance of obedience early in His teaching ministry: be wise and obey His words in order to find stability in the storms of life (Matthew 7:24–27). Judas was the foolish one who ‘built on sand’—and great was his fall! Sad story, but he had his chances to repent and become clean. He refused. The love of money can truly enslave people. Therefore, we must be free of it and its power (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). You cannot serve God and Mammon (Matthew 6:24).
Serving Others
Jesus the ‘Lord and Teacher’ gave them the example of love and humility in servant leadership—His disciples are to follow His example! They are to ‘wash one another’s feet,’ meaning, serve one another in love and humility (John 13:13–14). The greatest must be the servant of all! Leaders must be servants, leading by example and laying down their lives for their sheep. They must be shepherds after God’s own heart.
The only other place in Scripture with a reference to feet washing is regarding a widow’s character and behaviour, a woman of good reputation who, among other things, ‘has washed the saint’s feet’ (1 Timothy 5:10). It seems that serving others is in view here, which doesn’t negate the literal washing of feet, of course. All believers, not just leaders, must be serving others in love (Galatians 5:13) and show hospitality (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2). The Christian life in general and leadership in particular is a life of service so as to follow the example of Christ and express His love and humility to God’s glory. True leaders serve in love, humility and servanthood, and thus establish the foundation of the greatest commandment in the community of believers: ‘love one another’ (John 13:34). The new commandment is the framework of the New Covenant.
Leadership in God’s Kingdom is all about love, humility and servanthood. Therefore, love—always, and serve—wholeheartedly.
Fantastic piece of writing!
Wholesome and encouraging - thank you Gordon!!