20160523 Monday, May 23 2016
John 13: The Origins Of The Passover Foot Washing Prophecies

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him"

Foot washing was a common, practical task that was done apart from, and more frequently than, general bathing ("13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet" John 13:9-10 KJV). It was commonly done when entering a house (keeping in mind the more-open footwear of the time) by one's self, or by a servant.

The famous anointing of the Messiah at Bethany (see A Passover Prophecy That You Are Fulfilling Right Now and The House of Martha and Mary) was actually an elaborate foot washing ("Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment"). Notice also that, like the Passover foot washing that was done a few days later, the betrayer was also there.

"12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein." (John 12:1-6 KJV)

Based on a practice that everyone already knew and observed, the Messiah then washed His disciples' feet. The only thing new about what He did was that the Master did what a servant would do: "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

"13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

13:6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

13:7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.

Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

13:9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:1-17 KJV)

The presence of the betrayer at the righteous and thereafter-commanded Passover foot washing service was prophesied long before, as revealed by the LORD to King David: "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me". That prophecy, as recorded in Psalm 41:9 ("Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me"; see What Did King David Prophesy About Judas Iscariot?) was fulfilled that night.

"13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. 13:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.

13:25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him.

Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

13:28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night." (John 13:18-30 KJV)

Peter was, at times, impetuous - he made himself the first to speak, and so often the answer that was given to all of them was addressed to Peter (see 1 Peter: Be Not Lords Over God's Heritage). Peter's denial was the result of his confusion. Peter was not a coward or a traitor. He soon thereafter demonstrated his courage and faithfulness in standing between the Messiah and the mob. But when the Messiah told him to put down his sword and stop doing what any courageous, patriotic servant of the King would do, he became temporarily confused. His "I know not the man" was more a statement of that confusion (i.e. in effect, "I don't know why He told me to allow Him to be taken without a fight - that's not like Him") than a mere denial of personally knowing Him. Nevertheless, Peter's impetuousness that night came with a price that would come due (see Why Was Peter Crucified?).

"13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 13:32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

13:36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou?

Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

13:37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

13:38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice." (John 13:31-38 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why did the Messiah observe "the Last Supper" on Nisan 14?
See Nisan 14: How Did The Messiah Observe His Last Passover? and Nisan 14: The Day That The Messiah Was Crucified