Joh 13:13-16 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord has washed the feet of all disciples, including those of Judas. He has taken His garments again. Then He asks them whether they understand what He has done to them. From His question it appears that there is more connected to His deed than just making sure their feet are clean so that they can go to the table refreshed. By asking this question He wants to test their heart. Without waiting for an answer, He is going to teach them, and us, about what He has done. He knows what they call Him and He is saying that they are right to do so. In the first place they call Him “Teacher”, someone who teaches, and in the second place “Lord”, someone who has authority over them. The order for them is that they first receive teaching and then start to obey. It is often the same with us. We first have to see the reasonableness or usefulness of something before we do what is said. Based on their acknowledgment of Him as their Superior He teaches them more about what He has done. He tells them that what He has done to them, they now have to do to each other. When the Lord says that, He reverses their order and says that He is in the first place the Lord and in the second place the Teacher. This means that in the first place it comes down to obedience to Him as Lord and only then to accepting the teaching He gives about it. So, the first is mindset, the willingness to obey; then from that follows understanding of or gaining insight in what is being asked for. Foot washing is an act of brotherly love. The love among each other will lead us to perform this service to each other, so that fellowship with the Lord can continue to be enjoyed. The teaching of the Lord has not been theoretical. He has given them an example (cf. ). The purpose is that they will start to do as He has done with them. They have not only seen Him do something while they were watching. No, they have experienced personally what the Lord has done. After He has returned to heaven, He has continued that service. He is still cleansing us when we read His Word or are reminded of it by others. His example is meant to bring us to perform that deed and thus involve us in it. With a double “truly” and an authoritative “I say to you” He points out that they cannot ignore His example, as if they would consider themselves too good for such service. He is the Lord and they are the slaves. He has done this humble work as the Lord. Then they should not consider themselves to be greater than He by saying ‘no’ when that service is asked of them to perform it to others. He sends them to do this; they are His envoys. He sends and is thus greater. As the Sender He has done this humble work, how much more they are obliged to do this work when He sends them to do it. He also knows that ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’ are two things. That is why He urges them to do what they know now. He does not do this with a threatening ‘woe to you, if you do not do these things’, but with an encouraging “blessed if you do them”. Applying the Word to our dealings cleanses from defilement. Consequently, we can remain in undisturbed fellowship with the Lord Jesus. True brotherly love will desire this for every brother and sister and consequently the service of foot washing will also be performed. And is that not a service that makes us happy? What the Lord has done and taught His disciples can be summarized in three catchy words: humility, sanctification and happiness. These words at the same time indicate an order that we cannot turn around or leave out an element of. The path of sanctification and happiness begins and continues with humility. Humility leads to sanctification and sanctification leads to happiness. There is no happiness without humility and sanctification.

‏ John 13:13-16

Do as the Lord Did

The Lord has washed the feet of all disciples, including those of Judas. He has taken His garments again. Then He asks them whether they understand what He has done to them. From His question it appears that there is more connected to His deed than just making sure their feet are clean so that they can go to the table refreshed. By asking this question He wants to test their heart.

Without waiting for an answer, He is going to teach them, and us, about what He has done. He knows what they call Him and He is saying that they are right to do so. In the first place they call Him “Teacher”, someone who teaches, and in the second place “Lord”, someone who has authority over them. The order for them is that they first receive teaching and then start to obey. It is often the same with us. We first have to see the reasonableness or usefulness of something before we do what is said.

Based on their acknowledgment of Him as their Superior He teaches them more about what He has done. He tells them that what He has done to them, they now have to do to each other. When the Lord says that, He reverses their order and says that He is in the first place the Lord and in the second place the Teacher. This means that in the first place it comes down to obedience to Him as Lord and only then to accepting the teaching He gives about it. So, the first is mindset, the willingness to obey; then from that follows understanding of or gaining insight in what is being asked for.

Foot washing is an act of brotherly love. The love among each other will lead us to perform this service to each other, so that fellowship with the Lord can continue to be enjoyed. The teaching of the Lord has not been theoretical. He has given them an example (cf. 1Pet 2:21). The purpose is that they will start to do as He has done with them. They have not only seen Him do something while they were watching. No, they have experienced personally what the Lord has done.

After He has returned to heaven, He has continued that service. He is still cleansing us when we read His Word or are reminded of it by others. His example is meant to bring us to perform that deed and thus involve us in it.

With a double “truly” and an authoritative “I say to you” He points out that they cannot ignore His example, as if they would consider themselves too good for such service. He is the Lord and they are the slaves. He has done this humble work as the Lord. Then they should not consider themselves to be greater than He by saying ‘no’ when that service is asked of them to perform it to others. He sends them to do this; they are His envoys. He sends and is thus greater. As the Sender He has done this humble work, how much more they are obliged to do this work when He sends them to do it.

He also knows that ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’ are two things. That is why He urges them to do what they know now. He does not do this with a threatening ‘woe to you, if you do not do these things’, but with an encouraging “blessed if you do them”. Applying the Word to our dealings cleanses from defilement. Consequently, we can remain in undisturbed fellowship with the Lord Jesus. True brotherly love will desire this for every brother and sister and consequently the service of foot washing will also be performed. And is that not a service that makes us happy?

What the Lord has done and taught His disciples can be summarized in three catchy words: humility, sanctification and happiness. These words at the same time indicate an order that we cannot turn around or leave out an element of. The path of sanctification and happiness begins and continues with humility. Humility leads to sanctification and sanctification leads to happiness. There is no happiness without humility and sanctification.