The Gospel of John, Chapter 13 - Feet
Jesus knows that the time of his death approaches. There is this sweet sentence of supreme loyalty: “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (verse 1) The text says that Judas (with the devil in his heart) plans to betray Jesus. The gospel has had a sense of foreboding all along and now we know the denouement is near.
Jesus, knowing that he is going to sacrifice himself for all by dying, carries out another profound act of sacrifice: during dinner, he washes the disciples' feet. It’s a nasty, dirty job, but Jesus is willing to do it. At first the disciple Peter objects, but then he is all on board. Pastor told us today that the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet occurs only in the gospel of John. I think it's a profound story.
Jesus makes a statement about how the disciples (all but one - the betrayer) are clean. It’s another metaphor - for spiritual cleanliness. After Jesus finishes washing their feet, he explains to the disciples that in washing their feet, he was setting the example of how they should treat each other. He tells his disciples to wash one another’s feet - take care of each other. At least that’s how I have always interpreted this story. But in the text, Jesus adds “A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer.” (verse 16) That implies that the story might be about keeping in your place within the organization. The story of the washing of the feet is deeper than I knew, and will require further thought and prayer.
There is a clue in Chapter 15, verse 20. Maybe I’ll address it then.
Jesus speaks again about the one who will betray him. The disciples all want to know who among them is disloyal. Jesus gives the sign - he says, it’s the person I give this bread to after dipping it in the dish. And Jesus hands the bread to Judas. The text says that when Judas took the bread, “Satan entered into him.” Judas immediately leaves to do what must be done. The disciples, ever naive, think that Judas is going to buy stuff for the party, or to make a donation to the poor. The gospel writer points out starkly: “And it was night.” This is significant, in a text which leans so heavily on the metaphor of light and darkness, seeing and blindness.
Heads up that Jesus is about to make a lengthy set of speeches.
Jesus talks about being glorified, not for the first time in this gospel. Back in Chapter 11, Jesus made a point of saying that the purpose of Lazarus’ resurrection would be to glorify God. Now Jesus makes an obtuse statement using a lot of pronouns plus the word “glorify” (verses 31-32):
Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. (NRSV)
This passage is one of those typical Gospel-of-John texts where each word individually is understandable, but as a word ensemble one wonders what it actually means. It’s one of those things that you have to know before you know it. It’s a reference to the crucifixion, which is hardly glorious, but this gets at the paradoxical heart of Christian faith - there will somehow be glory through this ignominious death of the Son of Man.
Jesus predicts his death again, saying “where I am going, you cannot come.” The phrasing of Jesus’ next statement reaffirms his God-given authority (God is the one who issues commandments):
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (verses 34-35)
Jesus says it’s new, but is it? Leviticus 19:18 commands “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But maybe Jesus has taken this further, because wrapped up in that phrase “just as I have loved you” is the implication of being willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, or at least the sacrifice of washing another person’s stinky feet.
As simple as this command sounds, we have not done so well at following it, have we?
As usual, the disciples focus on the concrete while Jesus is speaking spiritually and metaphorically. Peter asks “But where ya going?” This is where Peter promises to lay down his life for Jesus. Jesus replies with the famous prediction: “Before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.”
Metaphors: clean, washing, going, night
Images and themes: service, betrayal, love for others, denial
People/Beings: Jesus, the disciples, the devil, Judas Iscariot, Simon Peter, “the [disciple] whom Jesus loved”
Places: at the dinner table
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