“One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.”
~ John 13:23
Hi James and Ellen,
Have you ever had a guy, gal or kid wash your feet? Have you ever washed a kid’s feet? How would you feel if a guy, gal or kid said that he or she wants to wash your feet? Ask your dad and/or ma if a guy or gal has asked them if he or she could wash their feet. A gal and a guy on two different occasions have washed the feet of your grandmaa and grandpaa. Why do you think that a gal and a guy would want to wash the feet of your grandmaa and your grandpaa? Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. Because Jesus one time washed the feet of His disciples, there are guys and gals today who think that Jesus was setting an example for guys and gals today to wash the feet of other guys and gals. Why do you think that Jesus would wash His disciples’ feet? John was one of Jesus’ disciples. John begins John 13 by recounting a couple of discourses or talks that Jesus had with His disciples. John was probably referring to himself when he wrote in what is now verse 23, “One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.” Jesus would be cruelly nailed to a couple of crude crossed wood beams within days after spending time eating and talking with His disciples in a house’s upper room. It was at this time that Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. Your grandpaa is quite sure that John never forgot what happened that day in that upper room when Jesus washed His feet, that he probably never forgot what Peter said that day, that he probably never forgot the actions of Judas Iscariot that day and that he probably never forgot what he heard Jesus say that day – especially what Jesus said about being loved and about loving others because John thought that Jesus loved him the most.
If you have never had your feet washed by . . ., how would you feel if someone – like your teacher, asked if he or she could wash your feet? Would you pull a Peter and tell the guy or gal who has asked you if he or she could wash your feet that you do not want to have him or her wash your feet? If the guy or gal insists on washing your feet, would you pull a Peter again and tell the guy or gal that if he or she really wants to wash your feet, that the guy or gal should wash your hands and your head as well? Both times when a guy washed your grandpaa’s feet, your grandpaa felt very self-conscious while the guy was washing his feet. Your grandpaa sometimes will pull a Peter. Your grandpaa sometimes will talk before he thinks – which Peter had a habit of doing. Your grandpaa does not think that Jesus’ other disciples questioned Jesus about His wanting to wash their feet. Your grandpaa also does not think that any of Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus if they could wash His feet. Jesus did tell His disciples that they were to wash each other’s feet. After Jesus had washed His disciples’ feet, Jesus told His disciples that He would be betrayed by one of them. To betray a guy or gal is to become disloyal to the guy or gal or to let down the guy or gal. Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot was the guy who would betray Him. Jesus – in front of all the other disciples, showed a special honor to Judas Iscariot when He shared with him some of His bread that He had dipped in sop. When Jesus gave some of His bread that He had dipped in sop to Judas Iscariot, Jesus said to the other disciples that the guy who He had shared His bread with would be the guy who would lift his heel – like a horse getting ready to kick a guy, against Him. Jesus gave Judas Iscariot at the same time one last chance to be one of His loyal disciples when He shared His bread with him. Instead of being a loyal disciple to Jesus, Judas Iscariot immediately left the upper room. Judas Iscariot was now Satan’s disciple. Satan insidiously urged Judas Iscariot to meet up with guys who wanted Jesus dead. When Judas Iscariot got up from sitting possibly in a place of honor at the table where Jesus was eating with His disciples, the other disciples probably did not think that it was odd that Judas Iscariot got up from the table to leave. Judas Iscariot was the guy who took care of the money for all the disciples so . . . the rest of disciples just did not get it that Judas Iscariot was the guy who was going to betray Jesus. Peter was so sure that he was not the one who would betray Jesus that . . . Jesus told Peter that before a rooster crowed three different times, that Peter on three different occasions would tell guys and gals who would be near him that he did not know Jesus. Your grandpaa thinks that John was very good – maybe too good, about remembering Peter’s impulsive, rash remarks.
How would you have liked to have been there in that upper room of the house where Jesus spent time talking to and eating with His disciples within days of when he would be cruelly tied to and nailed to a crude wood cross? When Jesus was washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus was demonstrating what humility was all about to His disciples. When Jesus was washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus was showing His disciples what serving other guys, gals was all about. When Jesus was washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus was putting His disciples before Himself. Do you put other kids before yourselves? Do you like to be in front of other kids – as a leader, or do you like to support and encourage other kids – when they lead? When Judas Iscariot was leaving the upper room, Judas Iscariot was demonstrating what arrogance – like putting yourselves before every other guy and gal, was like to Jesus’ other disciples who were in the room. When Judas Iscariot left the upper room, Judas Iscariot was showing what selfishness – like thinking only of yourselves, was like to Jesus’ other disciples who were in the room. When Judas Iscariot was leaving the upper room, Judas Iscariot was putting himself before Jesus’ other disciples who were in the room through letting Satan take control of his life. If you have your lives washed by the blood of Jesus, your lives have been cleansed from your sins. If you never have your lives washed by Jesus’ blood, your lives will be like that of Judas Iscariot.
John 13 (321)