Basin and Towel part 1

Aside from the cross of Calvary, perhaps the most humbling scene for the reader of God’s Word takes place in John chapter 13, as Jesus takes a basin and a towel and begins washing the feet of His disciples.  This will be our focus this week.

Here’s a little snack: The picture of the King of Kings bending His knee to the floor- and with a water soaked towel washing the feet of His followers stirs an array of emotions. Peter, though hesitant at first, consented when he realized that this meant more than a simple gesture of hospitality, but rather a symbol of covenant between the disciple and his Rabbi.  For Judas, on the other hand, seeing the one whom he thought would take the government by storm bowing down to a fisherman- meant the end of a really good thing. 

But what about Jesus?  What kind of emotions ran through the Son of God as he transitioned from being a lion to a lamb?  Knowing that His time was now come, He must have felt some kind of emotion.  The first 3 verses share with us 3 emotions of our Lord, which give us more clarity of Jesus’ heart as we see Him washing the disciples feet.

Verse 1 says, “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” 

Notice the pattern of events in this one, short verse.  When Jesus gave thought to the time, that His life on earth was coming to an end, His first thought was to those He loved.  Some speculate that He was speaking of His 12 disciples in particular, however, He could have been thinking of all the redeemed of the Lord.  Regardless, what a glorious thought to know that His love for His people did not cause Him to stay with them, but rather run to take His cross for them.

The second verse reads, “And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him.”  Can you imagine sitting down to eat a meal with one who was filled with the heart of Satan… knowing that he was plotting to betray you?  Oh the emotions!  And yet, Christ took that same basin and towel and made His way downward to the feet of Judas.  It must be understood that Jesus did not wash Judas’ feet by accident.  Humbling yourself to wash the feet of the one you love is not an easy thing. But to wash the feet of your enemy is perhaps the greatest showing of humility.

Finally, in verse 3 we read, “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;”  Jesus understood clearly that He was God.  He knew that He had authority over the event of the Gospel and that no one could alter what the Father had set in order before the foundation of the world.  And knowing this kind of authority, Jesus lowered Himself, with a basin and towel, and washed the disciples feet.

We are told later in the chapter that this was His example to us that we might humble ourselves to wash one another’s feet; those whom we love and those who would betray us.  What an awesome God we serve!