Jesus made His service of foot washing to be an arrow pointing to the cross, the "afterward" which would bring understanding to Peter and eventually the whole world. There, at the cross, Jesus would stoop even lower than foot-washing, He would wash the entire world of their sin, with His blood: “Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins with his own blood” (Revelation 1:5 KJV).
Oh friend, do you understand that Jesus’ death on the cross was to wash you and make you clean? “Washing at the cross” is our first principle of freedom!
John 13:8-11 NIV "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.
Jesus made it clear in this passage that the one requirement for people to have a part in Him is that he washes them. Remember, Jesus’ death on the cross was to open a “cleansing fountain” (Zechariah 13:1) where people could come and be washed and set free from idols.
The requirement for sharing any part with Jesus is not that we have lived perfectly, but rather that we are washed and cleansed from our sins at the cross, through the work of the Holy Spirit. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
John 13:12 NIV 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.
Having completed His demonstration of love, His act of service in washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus put on His clothes and returned to His place at the head of the table.
This entire scene in the upper room is a picture of the gospel. Think of it terms of these four steps:
In the beginning, Jesus sat at the head of the table, fellowshipping with His disciples.
Then He laid aside His outer garments, put on a towel.
Then He bent down and washed the disciples’ feet.
When He finished, He returned to His place at the head of the table.
Question 4. How do the above 4 points show us the gospel message?
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