He Took a Towel

Draft, under review

John 13:1–17

1It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.

2The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

3Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.

4So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.

5After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”

9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”

10Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”

11For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you?

13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.

14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

15I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.

16Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

17If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Berean Standard Bible. Read the full chapter

Reflection

John opens this scene by telling us what Jesus knew. The hour had come. The Father had put all things into His hands. He knew where He came from and that He was returning to God (John 13:1, 3). Then John tells us what Jesus did with that knowledge. He got up from the meal, set aside His outer garment, tied a towel around His waist, filled a basin, and knelt to wash His disciples' feet (John 13:4–5).

Security set Him free to stoop. Jesus had nothing to prove and nothing to protect. And the feet He washed included those of Judas, who was about to betray Him (John 13:2, 11), and Peter, who would deny Him (John 13:38).

Peter objected. It felt backward for the Lord to kneel in front of him. But Jesus said that unless He washed him, Peter had no part with Him (John 13:8). Before we serve, we have to be served. The towel points ahead to the cross, where the Son of Man gave His life as a ransom in the place of many (Mark 10:45). We can't earn our place by serving. We receive it as a gift.

Then Jesus sat down again and explained. If their Lord and Teacher has washed their feet, they should wash one another's. He has given them an example, and those who do it will be blessed (John 13:14–17).

So look around for the basin in your own life: a task no one notices, a person who is hard to love. Serve gladly, in His strength. And remember that even Jesus rested, and let Himself be served (Mark 6:31; John 12:3).

Word study: verified (STEPBible)

hypodeigma (Greek, Strong's G5262): example, pattern (John 13:15). Jesus calls His footwashing a pattern to follow. The verb for washing is nipto (G3538), used in John 13:5 and 14.

Cross-reference trail

  1. Mark 10:42-45: Greatness as service.
  2. Luke 22:24-27: One who serves at the table.
  3. Phil 2:5-8: He took the form of a servant.
  4. Gal 5:13: Serve one another in love.
  5. 1 Pet 4:10-11: Serving with God's strength.

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Prayer

Lord Jesus, You washed me first. Give me a towel and a glad heart, and the humility to rest.

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