John 13 explained: The Night Jesus Washed Feet

Jesus takes the servant's place (vv. 1-5)

People walked dusty roads in sandals, so washing a guest's feet was a job for the lowest servant, or guests did it themselves. Knowing he held full authority and that his death was near, Jesus takes off his outer clothes and does this job for his followers, apparently Judas included.

Peter refuses, then overcorrects (vv. 6-11)

Peter cannot accept his master serving him, but Jesus says that letting him do it is the only way to belong to him, and that someone who has bathed only needs their feet washed. Many interpreters read the bath as a once-for-all cleansing from wrongdoing and the foot washing as ongoing forgiveness, while 'not every one of you' points to Judas.

An example to copy (vv. 12-20)

If their teacher and master serves them this way, they should serve each other, because no messenger outranks the one who sent him. Jesus quotes Psalm 41:9 about a friend who shared his bread turning on him, a picture of betrayal from inside the circle of trust.

Judas leaves into the night (vv. 21-30)

Handing someone a piece of bread dipped in the shared dish was probably a gesture of friendship, which makes the signal Jesus gives all the more painful, yet the others still miss its meaning. 'And it was night' is likely meant to be felt as well as read, since this Gospel often uses darkness as a picture of turning away from the light.

Love as I have loved (vv. 31-35)

Jesus speaks of his coming death as the moment God's greatness will be shown, and tells his friends he is leaving soon. Love for others was already an old command, and interpreters differ on what makes this one new: perhaps its measure, 'as I have loved you,' perhaps that it binds his followers to each other, or that it will mark them out to everyone watching.

Peter's promise and its limit (vv. 36-38)

Peter vows to die for Jesus, but Jesus predicts that before the rooster crows at dawn Peter will deny knowing him three times. Christians have traditionally read 'you will follow later' as pointing to Peter's own death years afterward.

Key verse: John 13:34

Where Christians differ

Some churches hold that Jesus meant foot washing to be kept as a literal ritual among his followers, while most read it as a model for humble service in everyday life.

Something to think about

Which do you find harder, serving someone in a lowly way or letting someone serve you, and why might that be?