John 13:1-11 (ESV)

¹ Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, ⁴ rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” ⁸ Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” ¹⁰ Jesus said to 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.” ¹¹ For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Jesus wanted to express to his disciples how much he loved them, so after eating, he took off his outer layer of clothing and put a towel around his waist, preparing to wash their feet. In first century Israel, foot washings were common and necessary. People wore sandals without socks, and the dust from the desert ground accumulated on their feet. Washing the feet of others was considered such a low job that it was reserved for slaves. When Jesus wrapped the towel around his waist, he put on the garment of a slave. Peter felt uncomfortable. He didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet. When Jesus got to him, Peter questioned, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Peter felt like he should be washing Jesus’ feet. This whole thing didn’t make sense to him. Although Peter didn’t get it now, Jesus assured him that he would later understand what Jesus was doing and why. Peter resisted, insisting, “No way. You will never wash my feet.” Jesus responded that only those who have been washed have a relationship with him, referring to the cleansing he would provide for the sins of all of those who put their trust in him. Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and my head too!”

Jesus corrected Peter again. He explained that Peter was already clean, or a believer. As a believer, he didn’t need to be cleansed again. He simply needed his feet washed. Then, referring to Judas, Jesus clarified that not everyone was clean. Judas never truly trusted in Jesus and followed him for the wrong reasons. Since Peter was clean, why did he need his feet washed? As Peter walked around in life, his feet got physically dirty. The same principle applies spiritually. Peter needed to continually come to Jesus, confessing his sin, not to become a Christian, but because he was a Christian. If you are a follower of Jesus, you have been cleansed. Nevertheless, we all need to continually confess our sins to the Lord. We do this not to be saved, but because we are saved. Is there any dirt on your feet today? Do you need to confess to Jesus some sin you have entertained? If so, talk to him about what you have been doing wrong and ask him to forgive you. What a relief to know that “the one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.”