Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples

(Gospel of John 13:1 - 13:17)

  Before the Passover celebration, Jesus was aware that the time was imminent when he should leave this world and return to his Father.  He had loved his disciples during his time on earth and continued to love them until the end.  (Even so, the Devil had already inspired Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him.) Jesus knew that the Father had given him control of all things, that he had come from God, and that he would soon be returning to God.   Therefore, during supper he got up from the table, took off his robe, and tied a towel around his waist.  He poured some water into a basin and washed the feet of his disciples, drying them off with the towel that he had wrapped round himself.

When Jesus came to Simon-Peter, he was questioned by him, "Master, you’re going to wash my feet?"

Jesus replied, "You do not understand now the significance of what I am doing, but someday you will."

Peter protested, "You must never wash my feet!"

Jesus explained, "Unless I wash you, you cannot be a part of me."

"Well, then Master, don't just wash my feet, but wash my hands and face as well."

"A person who has already bathed has no need to wash anything but his feet to be clean.  You, the disciples, are clean -- but not all of you are."  (Jesus knew who was going to betray him and that was why he suggested that not all his disciples were clean.)

After washing their feet, Jesus put his robe back on and again sat down at the table.  He asked the disciples, "Do you understand what I have done for you?  You call me ‘rabbi' and ‘master,' and indeed you should, for I am such.  But since I am your rabbi and master and have washed your feet, you should then wash each other's feet.  I have set for you an example -- to do for others what I have done for you.  I tell you truly, the servant is not greater than the master, nor the messenger greater than the one who has sent him.  Now that you are aware of these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Notes
1.  At a time when men generally went barefooted or wore open sandals, washing the feet would have been a common hygienic practice and one with ritual significance.  But an inferior washes the feet of a superior and not the other way around.  Here, Jesus, who is, on every level, superior to his disciples, lowers himself to wash their feet.  It is a symbolic gesture and also a signal expression of his feeling for them.  Simon-Peter, the "rock," who is literal minded and somewhat hard headed, doesn't get it.  The mutual washing of the feet that Jesus urges means he wished for the disciples to take care of one another after he has left them.

2.  We have more reference to the upcoming betrayal of Jesus by Judas.  When the text says that Judas had already been inspired by the Devil to commit the act of betrayal, the meaning is not clear.  Is this a figure of speech ("the Devil made me do it" kind of thing) or is it meant that a specific entity known as the Devil has influenced or compelled Judas to betray Jesus?  If the latter was the case, if the Devil really made him do it, would Judas be morally culpable?