Setting the Stage for the Passover of the Passion Week
The final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry is filled with symbolic events. The triumphal entry, the teaching regarding end things, the preparation and the Passover supper all serve to prepare us for the cross. The Gospel of John records Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet in John 13.
The reader is transported from a view to Jesus’ public ministry (John 1–12). The abrupt change of scene to the serene setting at a supper table is welcome. It is, however, the calm before the storm. It is a dramatic interlude, a pause in the action.
The Gospel writer, the Apostle John, helps us to know some of the backstory before Jesus washes His disciples’ feet. First, the reader is made privy to some intimate details regarding both Jesus and Judas Iscariot.
When someone is diagnosed with terminal cancer, his or her priorities change. Some things are set aside, while other things take precedence. One gets his house in order. Jesus knew His time was near. It was time for departure with God the Father being the destination (13:1).
The Passover was one of three high feast holy days on the Jewish calendar, along with Pentecost and Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. Jerusalem was packed with people. The holiday of remembrance was celebrated atop the Temple Mount. The God of Israel had delivered His people from bondage in Egypt some 15 centuries before this date.
Our Passover sacrifice, the Lamb of God, was to be offered the next day on the cross. Before His departure, Jesus did and spoke many things to His disciples (Jn 13–17). Jesus loved His own; and this was vividly displayed by the One who had come to serve. Many people perform tasks that look good on the outside, but God looks at the heart. Jesus’ motive for doing His tasks was love for His Father and for His own.
“His own” are those whom the Father gave to the Son before the foundation of the world (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9). In this context, it was the 12 disciples who were in view. The Lord knows those who are His own (2 Tim 2:19). He had chosen His disciples (Jn 15:16); and He would later send them out to serve His kingdom advance in the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
In John 13, we are now in the hours before Jesus offers Himself to God (Heb 7:27; 9:14), as the one time, once for all time sacrifice for sins. In love, He came to die.
Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, is the iconic reprobate. He was a vessel of wrath prepared for destruction (Rom 9:22). His deeds were evil (Jn 3:19–20). He was a man of this world, the son of perdition (Jn 17:12). He kept the money box for the disciples and Jesus. There is no surprise for us to learn that Judas stole money from their treasury. He would add thirty pieces of silver to his revenue stream that very night, when He betrayed the Messiah of God to the chief priests and rulers.
Satan is the source behind all ideology and activity identified as antichrist. As the ruler of this world (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), Satan is a slave master of unregenerate sinners (Rom 6:6). The whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 Jn 5:19), who blinds the minds of men from seeing the truth of the Gospel mystery now revealed (Rom 16:25; 2 Cor 4:4; Col 2:2). The Light of the world shines (Jn 8:12; 9:5); but blind men cannot see Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world (Jn 4:42; 8:12; 9:5; 2 Cor 4:4).
The Apostle of heaven, Jesus, the Son of God had come on a mission (Mt 1:21; Lk 19:10). All things had been given to the Son of God. It was God the Father who had entrusted the stewardship of the mission to the One He knew was faithful and true.
The writer of this Gospel account places emphasis here on both Jesus’ incarnation and ascension. In leaving this dark world of sin, Jesus was returning to heaven. He would soon be enthroned at the right hand of God His Father in Majesty (13:1, 3). Before His exaltation, Jesus was to suffer betrayal, arrest, mockery, scourging, trial by the Jews, trial by the Gentiles, trial by the religious, and trial by the secularists. In every kangaroo court configured by men, injustice must needs prevail.
Still, the Son of Man came to serve (Mk 10:45). It was the role of the menial slave to wash the feet of his master’s house guests. Jesus dressed the part by removing His outer garment and girding Himself with a towel. The symbolism of foot washing serves both the imagery of cleansing and the example of humble service.
Christians, born again of God’s Spirit (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 1:13; 1 Pet 1:3), are given eyes to see the knowledge of the truth. We are given hearts to rejoice in the beauty and glory of Jesus Christ. We delight in seeing the sovereignty of God, as it plays out in vivid scenes like John 13:1–4.
First, we have learned that an appointed time was established for the length and extent of Jesus’ earthly ministry. His hour had come.
Second, Jesus knew His hour had come, as when the Greeks came to Him earlier in the week at the Temple.
Third, Jesus knew what the hour would bring and where it would end. He was in the penultimate hour before His departure home. This world was not His home any more than it is home to His followers, today. This world is doomed to destruction by fire at His second coming to judge the world (2 Pet 3:10; Rev 19:11–21).
Fourth, Jesus knew Judas Iscariot. He chose him to be the foil for the others. Judas’ name is the epitome of reprobate wickedness. It is a by-word. It is synonymous with wretched dastardliness. Unbelieving, unfaithful, disobedient, and evil traitor is the timeless reputation of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon.
Fifth, we know Jesus is no ordinary man. He is not just a good man or the greatest man who ever lived. He is far more than just a prophet, priest, or king of the Jews.
Jesus Christ our Lord knows all things. He is the omniscient God-man. Jesus has been entrusted with all things, which tells of His omnipotence to perform every good deed. He is the image of the invisible God, the creator and sustainer of all things (Col 1:16–17; Heb 1:1–3). He came the first time to save God’s chosen people (Jn 12:47; Acts 4:12); and He is coming again to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5).
Finally, we have learned something of Jesus’ love for His disciples…for us. He loved His disciples to the uttermost. He still does. We who are in the world, today, have the same love of Christ as did His disciples whom He had chosen (Jn 15:16). We know the love of Jesus by His love being poured out in our hearts (Rom 5:5), that is, by the Holy Spirit given to each of God’s elect, redeemed, regenerate people (Acts 2:38; 10:45).
Christian, rejoice and take comfort in knowing the love of God in Christ Jesus. You have come to the Lover of your soul; and He will never leave you nor forsake you. He has showed this to us by demonstrating that He would do everything required of Him to secure us for eternity.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
March 17, 2024
John 13:1–4
