JESUS The Bible states: John 13:1-17

His Hour Had Come

His Hour Had Come 1 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.

2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put 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 was come from God, and went to God

4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Jesus and Peter vs.6-9 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter

saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do

thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash Thou shalt never wash my feet.my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

The exchange between Jesus and Simon Peter Peter said to Jesus: Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus said to Peter: What I do thou knowest not now;but thou shalt know

hereafter. v.8. Peter said to Jesus: Thou shalt never wash my

‘feet’. Jesus said to Peter: If I wash thee not, thou hast no

part with me. Peter said: Lord, not my ‘feet’ only, but also my hands

and my head.

Jesus Explains… 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth

not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

If your Master has done this,you should do the same! 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your

feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I

have done to you. THE GREAT LESSON JESUS TAUGHT 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater

than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Observe the connection with Chapter 12

In Chapter 12:

1. v. 42,43 42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

John 12:48-50 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my

words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

The Washing of Feet was an individual matter

Old Testament 1. Gen. 18:1-5 Abraham was visited by 3 men

who were angels as they journeyed toward Sodom.

a)Abraham offered them water to wash their feet and gave them food to feed them

b) Abraham gave them what they needed! Water to wash their feet

And food to refresh them. (Acts of hospitality)

2. Gen. 19:1-3 When the men from God visited Lot.

3. Gen. 24:17-24,31-33. Abraham’s servant that visited Laban. ..water to wash his feet and the men’s feet that were with him.”

4. Gen. 43:24,25 Jacob sent his sons for food in Egypt..(‘’and they washed their feet)

5. Judges 19:16-21 A Levite and his concubine that were traveling, an old man of Gibeah provided for them a place to stay and gave them what they needed . “and

They washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

6. I Samuel 25:40-41 . David sent his servants to visit Abigail to invite her to be

His wife..Notice what she said: “Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant ‘to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” Abigail spoke of it as a ‘service’ and she was willing to ‘wash the feet of the servants’!

All these examples shows that ‘washing feet’ was an act of hospitality practiced

where people wore sandals, and their feet were ‘dirty’ after traveling.

In the Old Testament, Ex. 30:19-21; 40:30-32 . The Washing of

the feet of the priests in the Tabernacle

1. The priests washed their feet but also their hands.

2. They washed their ‘own’ feet and hands in the laver provided at the Tabernacle.

In the New Testament 1. John 13:1-17

2. I Tim. 5:10 “if she hath washed the saints feet.” An act of individual service.

There is no evidence in the NewTestament of a ‘special feet washing’ ser

1. There is no scripture in the New Testament that ‘a special feet washing’

Service was ordered, ordained by God, Or ever practiced. 2. From Acts 2, after the church was

established, we do not find anywhere that such a service was to be engaged by The church.

The lesson Jesus taught ..Humility…even the greatest will be

willing to do ‘the servants’ work! M tt. 20:25-28

Matt. 20:25-28 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and

said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

The Bible reveals that washing feet was An act of hospitality and shown to those

who were in need of it!

In John 13 and I Tim. 5, show that it is an act done personally, individually, and as one has the opportunity.

No scripture for a Special “Feet-Washing” Service! No scripture that it is to be done for

show..” Look how humble I am!” No scripture to authorize a special ‘feet-washing’ service for SHOW!

Luke 7:37,38,44-46 - In the home of Simon the Pharisee, a woman washed Jesus' feet with her tears. When Simon criticized her, Jesus pointed out that, when He entered Simon's house, Simon provided no water for Him to wash His feet, nor had he greeted Him with a kiss, nor anointed His head with oil. All these acts were intended as expressions of hospitality and respect for one who visited. Simon had not done them for Jesus, but the woman had done them for Him.

1 Timothy 5:10 - Paul described a widow indeed as one who lodged strangers, washed the saints feet, relieved the afflicted, and diligently followed every good work. All the other works in the list were acts of service to meet the needs of others. Washing the feet of saints is expressly associated with hospitality in lodging strangers, just as in the Old Testament cases.

Washing the Feet of Priests in the Tabernacle

Passages Exodus 30:19-21; 40:30-32 - God

commanded Moses to make a laver to place outside the tabernacle where the priests could wash their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle or offering sacrifices. They were commanded to do this on penalty of death.

* The priests washed, not just their feet, but also their hands.

* The priests were to wash their own hands and feet, not the feet of others.

* This was done by priests in the tabernacle. There is no evidence the people in general were commanded to wash the feet of others or to have their own feet washed.

* The time, place, and occasion was specifically stated: when they went into the tabernacle and when they offered sacrifices. There is no evidence it was done to other people in the midst of a worship assembly.

* Specific penalty was stated for failure: death.

1. John 13 nowhere states this should be a ritual of worship done in the assemblies of the church.

Where does the passage say feet should be washed in a worship meeting or as an act of worship? Nothing is in the passage so states. Any such conclusion is an assumption.

2. No other passage gives any example or any indication that Christians did this in church worship assemblies.

If the Lord intended this to be a religious ritual done in their assemblies, would we not find examples of it being done, like we find examples of the Lord's Supper being done in assemblies?

3. The only passage after this that even mentions feet washing is 1 Timothy 5:10.

The context there shows that the act is a personal, individual act done as one has the opportunity, like other qualities listed in that context. The widow indeed is hospitable to strangers, washes feet of the saints, and relieves the afflicted. There is no indication of church assemblies or church action of any kind.

the main lesson Jesus was trying to teach His apostles was humility.

But the modern denominational ritual involves making show and pomp of ones humility! One who is truly humble does not seek or deliberately set up rituals by which he can demonstrate his humility!

The disciples needed a lesson on having the humility to serve one another with kindness, rather than competing with one another to see who can excel others in honor and power.

“And there are plenty of other opportunities to serve.

The lesson to be learned is that every Christian should be humble enough to do for others what they need someone to do for them.

When we understand that this is the example Jesus set, then we should do as He did. “