(The Beginning of Holy Week Pt. 2)
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” John 13:13-14
During our spring break, we witnessed the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey with the crowds waving leaves from palm trees in honor of him. We know that on Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday, Jesus spent time talking to the disciples and preparing them for what was to come. On Spy Wednesday, the betrayal by Judas Iscariot began for a mere 30 pieces of silver. We were left to contemplate the value of another person.
Today, we need to check our character. We may think that we are in good standing; our character may be slightly flawed, but overall, we are pretty great. As a disciple of Jesus, one would think that Judas should have been great in character, but we get a glimpse of what was important to Judas before he betrayed Jesus. This is the scene in John 12: 1-8:
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
(Note: Mark 26:13. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”)
Notice the disciple that was most indignant about the amount of money lost by pouring out this expensive perfume onto Jesus. It was not about the loss of money that Mary suffered (a year’s wage), but the amount of money that Judas would have gained from the sale of the perfume. Judas was the money keeper for the disciples and often dipped into their funds unbeknownst to them, but known to Jesus, and yet, he was not called out for his wrongdoings. Not being called out probably made him think that he was getting away with this act. How many times do we do things that we know are wrong, but because no one has called us out on it, we think we’re getting away with it and continue to commit the sin. This is where we need to examine our character. While others may not see our secret sin, the Lord surely does. Notice in Mark 26:13 that Jesus says that Mary’s act in preparing him for burial would be honored throughout the world. Is there any action that we have taken that would bring the same type of honor that Mary received?
The washing of Jesus’ feet was the foretelling of things to come. The fifth day of The Holy Week is called Maundy Thursday. It is the day before Good Friday when Jesus would partake in the last supper with his disciples. Maundy in Latin means “command.” We should expect that through his teachings Jesus will give one final command before the ultimate betrayal takes place. Before the final command, Jesus takes action that surprises the disciples. He washes their feet! John 13:1-17 gives an account of this moment and the command from Jesus to the disciples.
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.
Can we even begin to understand the significance of the Lord holding out His hands to wash our feet? Our response would be very similar to Peter’s in that the idea of the Lord washing our feet is just a little unfathomable. Can you imagine that Jesus knew his betrayer and yet, He washed his feet also? This one act is representative of how much we are loved. We are prone to sin, but Christ loves us. We are known to lie, yet, Christ loves us. We may betray, and Christ still loves us. Talk about examining character. Jesus knew his betrayer, but he loved him anyway. John 13:18 says, “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’” After this act of love, can anyone ascertain the idea that someone would turn their backs on the Lord? Jesus knew and told the disciples to prepare them of what lie ahead.
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. John 13:21-26.
Imagine sitting, not in the shadows, but in the presence of “I Am” only to turn away from mercy, unconditional love, and grace for 30 pieces of silver. One would even say that Judas either didn’t acknowledge who the Messiah was or did not care because his transactions were always to suit himself. However, Jesus knew. At the moment that Judas dipped his bread, Satan took over his being, and Jesus recognized and said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John 13:27. The disciples could not understand this interchange, but Peter immediately stepped up and told the Lord that would always be by his side (at least Peter thought so). Again, Jesus knew what would happen and told Peter that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed.
There is quite a bit of character analysis between the washing of the feet and the Last Supper. Mary is pure and dedicated to the Lord. The disciples believe who He says He is and will carry out His commands. Peter thinks that his dedication runs deep until it is tested. Judas pretends to be a team player only to display treachery. The one person whose character remained unchangeable is Jesus.
Ponder: If we were members at the table, what would Jesus say about our character? Remember He sees us for what we hide, for what we fear, and for who and what we are? Are we Mary, Peter, or Judas?
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