John 13:10, commentary and pictures

He that is washed needs only to wash his feet to be wholly clean every whit, as one already bathed needs only this to be clean again. It was spoken to Peter when Christ as Lord laid aside His garment to wash the disciples' dusty feet at the last supper, and the added words that not all are clean were spoken because He knew Judas purposed to betray Him. The washing signified more than bodily cleansing, for the disciples had been cleansed in the fountain opened for sin yet their hearts had been soiled by pride, jealousy and contact with evil and needed Christ's continuing cleansing to have communion with Him. Judas was the exception, for though his feet were washed outwardly with the rest his heart stayed corrupt and unpurified because he would not yield to Christ, so outward service and sharing the supper did not make him clean or converted. The same humble service is given to the church to be observed with the supper, to bring inward cleansing, humility and unity by putting away pride and dissension before partaking of Christ.

Words and Historical Setting

The words were spoken to Peter during the washing of the disciples' feet at the supper when betrayal had been put into the heart of Judas Iscariot. The declaration that the disciples are clean but not all was made because Jesus knew who would betray Him. They belong to the service of feet-washing, an occasion when God is brought sacredly near, and are to be brought to remembrance by all who come to that ordinance.

He that is washed needing only to wash his feet means a person already bathed needs only the feet washed to be wholly clean every whit. The lesson is more than bodily cleansing.

It took place at the last Passover supper, the last gathering before crucifixion, in the last hours before Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for the world. At that time the disciples came to the supper with hearts filled with selfishness and tempers heated by contention and whisperings over who should be greatest, when they might have received great blessing in a right frame of mind. Seeing their flushed faces, Christ without a word laid aside His outer garment and girded Himself with a towel as a servant to wash their feet, though He was their Lord and the pure spotless Lamb of God presenting Himself as a sin offering. The action opened their eyes and left them too astonished and ashamed to speak, filled with bitter shame and humiliation, seeing themselves in altogether a new light in an experience they would remember as long as life lasted, to teach humility and loving service.

The chapter belongs to Christ's final preparation and comfort of the disciples for the trial and separation ahead, when they would witness His suffering and betrayal. As He ate the Passover with His disciples He put an end to the sacrifices offered for four thousand years. In place of the national festival observed by the Jewish people He instituted foot washing together with the sacramental supper as a memorial service to be observed by His followers through all time and in every country, to be ever repeated. This was because type met antitype in Himself as the authority and foundation of those ordinances and the great and only efficacious offering for the sins of the world, so that to continue the old rites would insult Jehovah.

Jesus took His disciples away alone, separate from the wicked. He first washed their feet and then gave them the communion, broken bread to represent His broken body and juice of the vine to represent His spilled blood.

Cleansing Symbolized by Washing

The washing of feet was not a merely outward act, not bodily cleanliness, not ordinary hospitality for dusty feet, and not tedious ceremony, but a religious service that signified more than bodily cleansing. It was given as a religious ordinance to test and prove loyalty, to keep lessons of humility and service in mind, and to prepare the heart for communion, since pride, conflict, and rivalry prevent fellowship and readiness to receive the memorial. One already bathed needs only the feet washed to be wholly clean, while the declaration that the company was clean but not all marked the betrayer as the exception.

As a bath cleans the body but sandaled feet soon gather dust, so those already cleansed in the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness and washed in blood may still have hearts soiled through temptation and contact with evil and still need continuing cleansing grace. All sin and inner defilement must be brought to Christ, who alone can make the heart clean, and that cleansing is necessary for communion with Him. The washing of the feet represented that deeper cleansing from the sins of the carnal heart.

By washing their feet He sought to cleanse their hearts of alienation and jealousy and pride and self-seeking. The washing itself did not cleanse away sins nor cleanse the soul from moral defilement nor by itself purify the heart, but tested whether the heart was already cleansed, with the humble service revealing that fact. He who brought a traitor's heart was thus revealed as inwardly unpurified and unsubmitted, though his feet were washed outwardly.

Peter's refusal to be washed was refusal of that higher cleansing and rejection of his Lord. A heart cleansed from every defilement matters far more than water applied to dusty feet, and Peter needed to learn humility and to have pride revealed. When he understood that separation was unbearable, he surrendered pride and self-will and accepted the service.

For the eleven the act subdued and cleansed alienation and dissension and jealousy and pride. In its place came restored humility and love and unity, with change of feeling, union of heart, a meek and peaceable and loving spirit, willingness to yield the highest place to another, and deep love for the Master and for one another, since cherishing unhappy dissension leaves none acceptable. That cleansing prepared them for fellowship, for receiving teaching, and for sharing in the memorial service and the last supper.

Clean Except the Betrayer

The declaration that the disciples are clean but not all pronounces them clean from sin with one exception, for Jesus knew who would betray Him, knew Judas Iscariot had it in his heart to betray Him and would betray Him, though Judas stood among the chosen apostles. He that is washed needs only to wash his feet to be wholly clean every whit, so the foot washing is not merely an outward act but belongs to a service of humble service in which disciples serve one another as Jesus served them. It was spoken to Peter during the washing of the disciples' feet at the supper when betrayal had been put into the heart of Judas, on an occasion when God is brought sacredly near and to be brought to remembrance by all who come to that ordinance. The washing signified cleansing from sin, and through remembrance of what Christ did it is given to bring about a state where no one exalts himself above another and brother is brought to understand the feelings of his brother.

Judas had his feet washed outwardly, yet his heart remained corrupt and defiled with sin and inwardly unpurified, because he had not yielded himself to Christ or submitted to Him. That outward act did not make him clean in heart and did not make him love Christ, for the lesson is more than bodily cleanliness and more than water applied to dusty feet, and a heart cleansed from every defilement matters far more. While for the other disciples the act subdued and cleansed alienation and dissension and jealousy and pride, Judas rejected the final appeal, went out to betray Him, and came under Satan's control. He was angry that Jesus would do a servant's work, decided from it that Jesus would not be made king, grew more determined to betray Him, and even knowing that Jesus knew his purpose did not make him afraid, so he left in anger to carry out his wicked plan, and his going lifted the shadow and brought relief and light to Jesus and the other disciples.

Outwardly sharing Christ's work and religious service did not mean Judas had received Christ or been converted. The cleansing that makes a person truly clean is the soul cleansing and change of character that comes through Christ's transforming grace and constitutes conversion, and Judas had never experienced it. His outward place among the disciples did not make him converted, for Christ knew his inward condition. His refusal to obey Christ's lessons showed he was not among His chosen ones, for Christ's chosen ones are those who obey His lessons, and Judas was not chosen because he would not believe in Christ as his personal Saviour or yield his will and way to Him.

Taking part in the foot washing and the sacrament therefore did not prove inward unity with Christ or holiness, since Jesus washed Judas's feet even though Judas would betray Him. Since people cannot read hearts or distinguish tares from wheat, those who wish to take part in the service should not be excluded.

Last Appeal to Judas

With His own hands He washed soiled feet, beginning with Judas first, and that washing was His last act on behalf of His betrayer. He did it while fully knowing Judas's secret purpose to betray Him, yet He gave him no rebuke and no exposure. The humble, loving treatment given to Judas was the same treatment given to all the disciples, the same as through all His time with them. It proved He would do anything to save even the most guilty sinner, for He came not to save man in his sins but from his sins, so that if Judas would believe on Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world, he might still become a child of God.

The words that not all are clean were spoken so Judas would understand that Christ read his secret purposes and was not ignorant of his wicked schemes. The washing brought him conviction and offered him cleansing from sin, giving him a last opportunity to confess and be converted and to repent. It was a final effort to give him opportunity to change, even though he was determined to excuse his conduct and conceal his betrayal. Though the disciples did not understand at the time, the words were imprinted on memory afterward to teach the patience, mercy, and forbearance of God toward the most grievously erring.

The eleven received that offered cleansing, becoming ashamed, mortified, conscience-stricken, subdued and broken, with hearts drawn out to Jesus in deep earnest faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Judas alone remained not clean, and the words but not all fit his refusal to receive that cleansing. His pride made him resist, though under Christ's goodness, humility and love he thrilled with an impulse to confess. He turned the wrong way, bracing his soul against light, casting out the Holy Spirit's impressions, and choosing to stay a channel of darkness and a traitor despite his great capabilities and knowledge.

The tender ministry did not prevent Judas from choosing betrayal, for after the final appeal of love went unheeded his washed feet went out to carry out his plan. The outward act did not make him clean in heart or make him love Christ, but he rejected Jesus and came under Satan's control. He grew angry that Jesus would do a servant's work, decided from it that Jesus would not be made king, and grew more determined to betray Him. Even knowing that Jesus knew his purpose did not make him afraid, and he left in anger to carry out his wicked plan, and his going lifted the shadow and brought relief and light to Jesus and the others.

Ordinance for the Church

Foot washing is a simple ordinance established in connection with the last supper to replace the ancient Jewish rites and ceremonies, whose virtue and force ended because type met antitype in Christ Himself as their authority and foundation and the great and only efficacious offering for the sins of the world, so that to continue them would insult Jehovah. It is connected with the ordinance of humility that accompanies the Lord's Supper, to be observed together with the supper preceded by humble confession, coming before partaking of the emblems of His death and after baptism. Christ Himself is always present at this special season to lead each participant to feel conscience, to awaken understanding of the lessons symbolized, to revive memory, to convict of sin, and to receive penitential offerings. Its observance brings gladness and advances a good spiritual work.

It is a plain duty laid down by example and teaching, to be followed as exactly as possible and practiced more frequently together with partaking of the Lord's supper, keeping God's people humble and separate from the world and from backsliding like the nominal churches. It is to be introduced into new places with carefulness and wisdom in a proper time and manner where people are uninformed or prejudiced against it through former teachers, and to be done understandingly and not made a tedious ceremony. It is a solemn, humbling act in which the congregation participates together, with leaders setting the example to the men and to the women separately and then all heartily engaging in it together. That season is solemn and profitable, a humbling before God with weeping and rejoicing that is long remembered, and joined with earnest, appropriate talk in breaking the bread it brings sobs and groans from those present. Sisters are to wash the feet of brethren according to gospel order, but there is no example for brethren to wash sisters' feet.

Foot washing and communion belong among believers only and must be kept entirely separate from unbelievers, or reproach comes on the cause of God. Jesus took His disciples away alone, separate from the wicked, and first washed their feet and then gave them broken bread to represent His broken body and juice of the vine to represent His spilled blood. Yet even in that separated company a Judas may from time to time appear to be with believers and partake, eating and drinking to his own damnation, but God will quickly make him manifest and he will be purged out from among Israel.

No one is to be kept from foot washing as unworthy and no one is to refuse to attend because an unworthy person is present, for human beings cannot read the secrets of the soul or reliably distinguish tares from wheat or the true from the false. Those who wish to take part should not be excluded from the washing and the sacrament, even as Judas was still allowed to take part in the foot washing and the sacrament though he was not clean and would leave the table to betray Him, which proves that taking part did not prove inward unity with Christ or holiness. The scene is witnessed by heavenly messengers and by messengers of darkness attending those who resist the Holy Spirit.

The ceremony is more than the ordinary washing of dusty feet as an act of hospitality: it is a religious ordinance given to test and prove loyalty for modern Israel, to come before partaking of the emblems of the Lord's death. It meets a moral and spiritual need of the heart, clearing away misunderstandings, pride, selfishness, self-exaltation, evil surmisings and bitterness of spirit over trifles, to bring the humility of spirit that leads a person to wash his brother's feet. It requires inward cleansing before sharing communion through close investigation of life and character, true contrition of soul, fellowship with Jesus and with brethren, and the breaking down of pride and self-sufficiency. Whoever sits at the communion table must sit humble and clean in heart, purified from all defilement, with sins forgiven and the love of Jesus abounding in the heart, and then Christ's righteousness will fill the chambers of the mind and the soul temple. Eating the body and drinking the blood means not only partaking at the sacramental service but daily partaking of the bread of life that alone satisfies soul-hunger by receiving His Word and doing His will.

Humility Unity and Daily Life

The foot washing belongs to the final lesson in humble service in which the Lord and Master took the place of a servant and washed the feet of those who called Him Lord. While the disciples were contending for the highest place in the promised kingdom, Christ, though the pure spotless Lamb presenting Himself as a sin offering, girded Himself and did the office of a servant. As He ate the Passover with His disciples He put an end to the sacrifices offered for four thousand years, and in place of the national festival He instituted foot washing together with the sacramental supper as a memorial to be observed by His followers through all time and in every country, to be ever repeated so all may see that true service calls for unselfish ministry. That lowly service teaches disciples, and especially ministers, to serve one another with true humility and unselfish ministry, showing that followers must not consider themselves superior to even the humblest believer nor exalt themselves above one another.

The service is a sacred ordinance and religious service, not merely an act of hospitality, given to keep His lessons of humility and service in mind and to prepare the heart for communion. It was given to teach humility and to bring followers together in unity, joining their hearts in oneness with Him, so that through remembrance of what Christ did no one exalts himself above another and brother is brought to understand the feelings of his brother. Pride, conflict, and rivalry prevent fellowship with Christ and readiness to receive the communion.

The teaching could only be received in humility and affection, and receiving it washed away hatred and dissension and brought a change of feeling, union of heart, and a meek and peaceable and loving spirit. For the disciples other than Judas the act subdued and cleansed alienation and dissension and jealousy and pride, since cherishing unhappy dissension leaves none acceptable before God, and a heart cleansed from every defilement matters far more than water applied to dusty feet. That cleansing brought willingness to yield the highest place to another and deep love for the Master and for one another, preparing them to partake of the last supper together. The washing comes before the supper to clear away misunderstandings, pride, selfishness, self-exaltation, evil surmisings and bitterness of spirit over trifles, and to bring the humility of spirit that leads a person to wash his brother's feet.

The chapter expresses God's will for His people and workers, which they are to believe and live before one another in unity with Him and one another. Workers for God must daily be emptied of self and cleansed of wrong tendencies, and being clean means being pure and consecrated in thought, spirit, and practice through humble repentance and dependence on God. That cleansing must be done by the Holy Spirit and includes cleansing away the defilement of unkind talk, passing judgment, and self-assured conversation that hurts souls and spoils God's work. When these words are not heeded, counsels become a detriment and a savor of death unto death instead of a savor of life unto life.

Jesus knew the betrayer was among His chosen apostles and was not clean because he would betray Him, yet He bore patiently with him, washed even his feet, and welcomed him to the table. The foot washing signified cleansing from sin and was part of Christ's effort to give the disciples an opportunity to repent and be cleansed, and all but one were brought to repentance through His example of patience and mercy toward a sinner. His long patience with a perverse person teaches followers to bear patiently with false brethren rather than seek to remove them prematurely. They must not abandon someone they believe is in error or sin, and must avoid leaving such a one exposed to temptation or driving that person into greater temptation and away from the chance to repent.