Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 13:5.
What does a true act of service look like? The disciples witnessed this act of ultimate love and service from Jesus in His foot washing ceremony.
"...how at such an hour did He feel towards those who had been His companions throughout the years of His public ministry, and whom He was soon to leave behind Him? 'He loved them unto the end.'" Not engrossed with His own sorrows, or with the prospect of His subsequent joys, He found room in His heart for His followers still; nay His loved burned out towards them with extreme dinary ardor, and His whole care was by precept and example by words of comfort, warning, and instruction, to prepare them for future duty and trial, as the narrative here commencing would abundantly demonstrate." A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve, pg. 342.
In His final days, our Lord didn't get caught up in what was about to happen to Him in Jerusalem. He was interested in what He could do to prepare the disciples for the coming ministry ahead. He didn't stand off in the corner and say to Himself, "Woe is me!" He used this time wisely to teach the disciples what it looks like to be great in the kingdom. "He began to wash the disciples' feet." We must understand the disciples were all deciding what place of seating at the table was the most prominent in their recent past. To be at the best place at the table surely meant that their place in Heaven also would be significant.
In fact as Jesus took the time to wash the feet of the disciples, it was almost as if He was washing their feet as a act to overcome the evil to come with a good act.
But when Jesus came to Peter to wash his feet, Peter made the statement, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus responds by telling him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” In essence Jesus was saying; He meant to say, "that my present action is an offense to feelings of reverence which you rightly cherish towards me. Nevertheless, suffer it. I do this for reasons which you do not comprehend now, but which you shall understand ere long." A. B. Bruce, pg. 342-343.
In this respect Jesus was telling Peter eventually he would understand the Master must take on the washing of one to cleanse his soul in the future. This act of foot washing was an example of the cleansing the Master would perform in all those who accept Him as Savior. Besides, if Peter could resist Jesus act, then what else could he refuse and or tell the Savior what to do in the future? Could he manipulate Jesus in the future by dictating what orders he would comply with in the future as well? No. Jesus didn't condemn his response (as He could have, being stressed by His upcoming crucifixion), but rather used it again as a teachable moment.
As I reflect upon a conversation with someone this week, I remember telling a person; "In order for Jesus to complete our salvation, He had to relate to all we go through in this life," and kneeling down to serve others was a great part of Jesus showing us the humility we all must embrace. Meekness does not imply weakness. In fact, the act of foot washing by Jesus intimates we should allow Him to take up the part in our life that needs the deepest cleansing. Only He can clean that area up; but we must submit it to Him to allow the cleansing to occur!
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