1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Read John 13:1-17 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
While finishing washing Peter’s feet on the night He was betrayed and arrested, Jesus finishes His discussion with Peter about washing feet by saying something profound. John’s gospel shares this conversation with us and he tells us Jesus finishes verse 10 by saying, “And you are clean, though not every one of you.” John then continues by giving us a side-note to draw our attention onto the significance of this statement: “For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.” (v. 11)
In case you had a question in your mind about whether Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, was present during the foot washing, this should help give you an answer. Part of me wonders if Jesus’ eyes finished scanning the disciples and came to rest on Judas Iscariot, in a subtle way telling Judas Iscariot that Jesus knew it was him. John tells us that Jesus knew Judas Iscariot would be the betrayer, which leads us to a powerful question: If Jesus knew Judas Iscariot would betray Him, then why even select Him to be a disciple?
While this question is significant, it is also significant to recognize that Jesus washed Judas Iscariot’s feet, but even with “clean” feet, Judas Iscariot had not let Jesus clean his heart or his attitude. While Peter had offered to let Jesus clean every part of his life, Judas Iscariot held part of his life back and tried to keep it hidden from Jesus. If Jesus had the conversation He had with Peter with Judas Iscariot instead, perhaps Jesus would have been able to reach the area of Judas Iscariot’s life before it was too late.
This truth teaches us that even if we let Jesus wash part of our lives, we must be invite Him to wash every part of our life that needs to be cleaned. Jesus’ statement at the end of his conversation with Peter hints at the reality: Judas Iscariot teaches us that even though we have let Jesus clean a part of our lives, if we are holding something back from Him, Satan is eager to use what we are holding on to in a way that derails Jesus’ ideal for our lives.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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