The Strand Study Bible

JOHN 13:5

JOHN 13:25

1753

5 After that he poureth water into a ba- son, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel where- with he was girded. 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 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 promise of Judas’ betrayal of CHRIST (Fulfilled - Jn 18:3,5 - AD 32) 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is 1 washed needeth not 2 save to wash his feet , but is clean every whit : and ye are clean , 3 but not all . P 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, 3 Ye are not all clean . P 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 ? 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 4 wash one another’s feet .

15 For I have given you an example , that ye should do as I have done to you . 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 , 5 happy are ye if ye do them . 18 I speak not of you all : I know whom I have chosen : but that the scripture may be 6 fulfilled , 7 He that eateth bread with me 3 hath lifted up his heel against me . PF P 19 Now I tell you before it come , that , 3 when it is come to pass , ye may believe that 8 I AM he . P 20 Verily , verily , I say unto you , He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me ; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me . Judas, the identified betrayer (S/A - Mt 26:21-25 & Mk 14:18-21 & Lk 22:21-23) 21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily , verily , I say unto you , 3 that one of you shall betray me . P 22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom 9 one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

1. or, “bathed” Note - Bathed is symbolic of being saved. 2. or, “but to wash his feet” 3. Fulfilled - Jn 18:3,5 (Christ’s Rejection) 4. or, “forgive one another’s dirt” - Lk 17:3-4 & Mt 5:23-24 & Eph 4:32 5. or, “blessed “ - Jms 1:25 & Rev 22:7,14 6. See - Psa 41:9 7. Quoted from the OT - Psa 41:9 8. Exo 3:14 & Jn 8:58-59 9. or, “John himself”

13:5 Jesus “washed” the feet of His disciples for several reasons: 1. He wanted them to recognize their need for daily cleansing (vs 5-10)

Because we live in a sin-cursed world everyday of our life, we often get “soiled” as we walk. It is important to recognize how “filthy” we really become, due to our walk through this godless world (Lk 11:4). Louis A. Barbieri in First & Second Peter notes: The child of God receives a complete “bath” when he comes to know Christ as his Saviour. Therefore, he does not need a complete “bath” when he sins, he needs only to “wash his feet.” 1 2. He wanted them to better understand the doctrine of eternal security (vs 10) Did He not wash their feet knowing they were going to sin again? Thus, He forgave their sin before they even committed it. 3. He wanted them to better understand what it meant to be a true servant (vs 12-14) When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, did He not wash Judas’ feet as well. A true servant (like Jesus/God) serves whoever (a known enemy – Mt 5:43-48), wherever (the land of the enemy – II Ki 5: 1- 2 -4), and however he or she can (Exo 23:4-5 & Prov 25:21-22/Rom 12:20 and Lk 6:27-35). 4. He wanted them to do for others what He has done for them (forgive) (vs 15-17) (Lk 17:3-5) 5. He wanted them to better understand the role of deity (vs 19) One of God’s greatest characteristics is His humility and servant hood towards those who do not deserve it (Rom 5:6-8). 13:6 In order to understand Peter and his response to our Lord’s washing of his feet, the two pronouns “ thou” and “ my” need to be noted. The pronouns are emphatic. What Peter was saying was, “Lord, thou are not a servant, so why are you washing my feet?” The thought of a superior serving an inferior offended Peter. Peter had a lot to learn (vs 7). 13:10 Concerning the phrase “ save to wash his feet ” – Charles Ryrie in the Ryrie Study Bible notes:

Just as in the natural life a man who has bathed needs only to wash the dust off his sandaled feet when he returns home, so in the spiritual life a man who has been cleansed from sin need not think that all is lost when he sins in his walk through life. He needs only to confess these sins to be entirely clean again (I John 1:9). 2

1 Barbieri, Louis A. First & Second Peter , Chicago, ILL, Moody Press, 1975, 1977. Print 2 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible , Chicago, IL, Moody Press. 1978. Print.