Washing Feet

I was recently reading John 13, and, like the Bible so often does, it struck me in an entirely new way. There’s a lot going on in this chapter, but we are going to focus on one main piece - Jesus washing His disciples’ feet.

This passage is typically taught in a way that reminds us to love others with a servant-hearted love, modeled by Jesus, which is absolutely true and a great lesson to glean from this scripture. As I read it through this time, the Lord showed me that it goes even deeper.

When Simon Peter asks Jesus to wash all of him, Jesus responds with,

“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.” - John 13:10

We’ll circle back to the second part of that verse in a minute. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross washes clean any who believe in Him. But the feet still get dirty. This is representative of our daily need to be cleansed of sin.

Until Christ returns, we are in a process of sanctification. That means that we are already saved and washed clean, and yet, Jesus is still saving and washing us clean. It’s one of those "already/not yet" concepts of scripture that we are already set apart and made whole under the blood of Christ, and yet we are actively being transformed into His image every day until He returns.

Yes, by washing the disciples feet, Jesus was giving them an example of how to love with a servant's heart. And also, I think there was something else at play here: forgiveness.

If washing depicts a cleansing of our sins, both once and for all as well as daily, then forgiveness has to have a part in it. Jesus forgives our sins by His death on the cross when we confess him as Lord. And He daily forgives our sins when we walk in repentance and bring our sins before Him each day.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9

But the other important part of this passage is that Jesus gave the disciples (and by extension, us) an example to follow.

“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” - John 13:16

Jesus is illustrating for his disciples the importance of forgiving one another - daily if need be - and forgiving even before the person repents.

Now that is tough.

How many times do we say in our hearts, “I’ll forgive them if they apologize first”? Or try to manipulate and pander for an apology after we’ve been hurt by someone?

I know, I’ve been there too.

But Jesus’ example is different. He shows us how to forgive before the other seeks forgiveness and even before the betrayal took place.

Let’s go back to the second part of John 13:10 - “And you are clean, but not every one of you.”

Jesus was referring to Judas Iscariot, who was preparing to betray Jesus into the hands of the Romans. Earlier in the chapter, John tells us that the devil had already placed the thought and intention into Judas’s heart. After Jesus washed his feet, scripture tells us the devil himself entered Judas.

Scripture makes it clear that Jesus had the divine foresight to know what Judas was about to do, and yet, he still washed his feet. I think this was a symbolic way of forgiving Judas’s offense even before it happened.

How hard is that? We want to rant and rave and vent to our friends before we are ready to take it to the Lord in prayer and turn our heart toward forgiveness… if we even make it that far. But what if we sought the Lord and extended forgiveness first? Then when you don't even need to tell your friends about it, or if you do, you can speak of the other person in an uplifting, life-giving way.

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” - Proverbs 29:11

Let me clear up a common misconception - venting doesn’t quell your emotions, it often fans the flames. Especially depending on who you vent to.

One really helpful tool to overcoming big emotions is to have an un-offendable heart. It’s a lot easier to forgive when you can’t be offended in the first place!

But that’s something that is hard for us humans to do, and we can only get it by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“...bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” - Colossians 3:13

Jesus models quick forgiveness. He shows us how to not dwell on the offense, but to forgive immediately, not waiting for an apology, or weighing out whether they deserve it.

I’ll go ahead and tell you they don’t deserve it, and neither did you. None of us deserve forgiveness, but Jesus gave it to us without measure, so who are we, His servants, to withhold the same gift from others?

Forgiveness is a gift. When we apologize for hurting someone, we shouldn’t expect it, but should graciously receive it when it’s offered. And, as Jesus modeled, we should be quick to give it, even before the apology.

Forgiveness strips the enemy of his power over you. It strips emotions of their power over you. Once you forgive, the enemy can’t use that pain as leverage to stir up evil thoughts in your heart. If you have an un-offendable heart, he can’t use that offense to stir up hate toward a brother or sister and sow division.

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful tools Jesus has given us, so let’s use it, Church!