“If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me.” – John 13:8b
The Dirty Dozen. The cast; Peter, James, John, Andrew, Nathanael (Bartholomew), James (the younger), Thaddeus, Matthew (Levi), Philip, Simon, Thomas, and Judas. Perhaps they had aliases such as Pride, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Greed, Gossip, Liar, Thief, Doubter, and Murderer. The scene; Upper room, before the Feast of Passover. Props include basin, towel & water.
First Act
“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. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. 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.”
Time is winding down. The shadow of the cross is looming. Jesus is going to return to the Father, Judas is going to sell out to the Father of Lies. Jesus loved His own to the end, Satan wants to destroy to the end. The upper room has a water basin and towel, but no servant. Or so it appeared. Although the basin and towel could not speak, they were convicting the disciples. What was going through their minds as they saw these objects? Apparently, they would rather eat without washing than humble themselves. Not so with Jesus. Despite the fact that He was their Master, he removed His garments and wrapped the towel around himself and began washing feet.
Second Act
“He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 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.’ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ 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.’ For He knew who was to betray Him; that was why He said, ‘Not all of you are clean.'”
Hard to wash a man’s feet when he keeps them in his mouth! Jesus is displaying humility, Peter his pride. Jesus is modeling a profound truth, Peter is showing his ignorance. If a basin of water is good for me, bring me a tub full! Peter, what I am doing has Spiritual implications. Washing your feet isn’t going to remove your sins. This act of humble service is foreshadowing a greater act of humility. You may not understand now, but you will after THAT act. My coming act of humility will cleanse each of you of your sins but one. But I will still wash his feet, even though he will lift his heel against me.
Third Act
“When He had washed their feet and put on His outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
Do you understand? We came into a room to celebrate the Passover. Here were the necessary items for washing but none of you would humble yourselves. You just debated who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. Too often, talk means nothing. Images, however, can last forever. How shocked were the twelve when Jesus removed His garments and wrapped Himself in the towel? What went through their minds as He got on His knees and lifted their feet, one by one, washing and drying them? Such condescension! What, if any was the conversation like? What do you say to your Master when He models such humility? Perhaps each waited for another to perform this menial task, but Jesus? The image was probably forever stamped on their minds. Humble yourselves.
Not all of the Dirty Dozen were at the cross, but their aliases’ were. Pride and all of the sins she births. They sent Jesus to the cross. How repugnant is pride to Jesus? He knew His disciples would scatter. He knew they would not all be at the foot of the cross. Eleven of them would be washed by His blood. All of them needed an example of humility branded on their minds. God in human flesh, wrapped in a towel and washing your feet should serve the purpose. Sin needs to be dealt with, it begins with humbling ourselves. True humility is grounded in the Truth. True love is manifested in serving others. I am convinced that for the remainder of their lives the Apostles pictured Jesus wrapped in a towel every time they saw a water basin. How much has this example changed our world? How would our lives be different if we were there? Don’t wait to be convicted by a water basin. Lay down your pride, wrap yourself in a towel and begin washing feet. You have been washed by Jesus. You have a part with Jesus. What is stopping you from imitating Him? Hopefully not pride. Jesus humbled Himself to wash you of it.
“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” – John 13:17