Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
The disciples rightly call Him Master and Lord, and they say well, for so He truly is even while He stoops to serve them. Though equal with God and infinitely exalted, He shows His divinity in this condescension as God manifest in the flesh, worthy of the allegiance of the whole mind, will, soul and strength. His greatness gives grace and significance to the humble act, proving that true greatness is found in humility and loving service and that washing feet does not lessen His dignity or authority. Because He as Lord and Master washed their feet, His followers ought to do as He did and wash one another's feet, for the servant is not greater than his lord. He made the act a consecrated ordinance to come before communion to teach humility, bring self-examination and confession, and unite hearts in oneness with Him and with one another.
Setting at Last Supper
These words were spoken in the upper chamber on the night before death at the last Passover supper, the last sacred gathering before the crucifixion when He was nearest the hour of ascending to the Father. As the pure spotless Lamb presenting Himself as a sin-offering He ate the Passover with His disciples, ending four thousand years of sacrifices and replacing the Jewish national festival with the memorial service of feet washing and the sacramental supper to be repeated in every country through all time. He affirmed that the disciples called Him Master and Lord rightly, for so He truly is, yet He had just served as the lowest servant to rebuke pride and give them a new view of themselves.
They had come with selfish hearts heated by strife over who should be greatest and have the highest place in the promised kingdom, and while their dispute about which of them should be accounted greatest was still fresh He served them. This humbling act exposed their selfishness and contention and brought them shame.
Without a word He laid aside His outer garment, girded Himself with a towel as a servant, and washed their feet to open their eyes, reveal their pride, and fill them with shame and humiliation they would remember for life. By that title of Master and Lord He gave authority to His example and required all who believe in Him to do as He did and wash one another's feet. Because their Lord and Master washed their feet, they ought to wash one another's feet, for the servant is not greater than his lord, and happiness comes from knowing and doing this humble service.
He took His disciples away alone, separate entirely from the wicked and unbelievers, first washed their feet and then gave them to eat of broken bread to represent His broken body and to drink of the juice of the vine to represent His spilled blood. The washing of saints' feet and the communion must therefore be held apart from unbelievers, for doing them among unbelievers brings reproach on the cause.
Meaning of Master and Lord
The disciples call Him Master and Lord, and they speak correctly, for that is truly what He is, and He remains so even while stooping to wash their feet. His authority is not lessened by that lowly service but is shown alongside it, and because He who is their Lord and Master served them, they are to serve one another in the same way rather than contend for honor or rank. Though He is Lord, He did not consider Himself above such service, and His followers are therefore not above serving one another, but are blessed when they put His example into practice, even toward a betrayer. Though equal with God, He demonstrated His authority and divinity through this condescension, stooping to humble service without loss of dignity. He is infinitely superior and exalted, yet His greatness gave grace and significance to that service, for He made Himself one with people of every rank and circumstance so He could impart His gifts to them. He is God manifest in the flesh and one with God, worthy of every knee's submission, and at the supper He tenderly included Judas even after Judas had agreed to betray Him, giving him a final appeal of love which Judas rejected.
His authority is His alone, and it rightly claims full service and the allegiance of the whole mind, will, soul, and strength. His claim to be Master and Lord is no blasphemy, and those who recognize His authority should make a determined effort to represent Him rightly. As Master and Lord He has authority and foundation over all the Jewish ordinances that pointed to Him, and He used that authority to discharge His disciples from the cares and burdens of ancient rites and ceremonies. Type was meeting antitype in Himself as the great and only efficacious offering for the sins of the world, so that to continue those rites after receiving the gospel would insult Jehovah. As Master and Lord He gave instead this simple ordinance as His last established ordinance in connection with the last supper, because His disciples needed it.
It speaks less to intellectual capacity than to heart and moral and spiritual nature, to disentangle them from ceremonies hitherto held essential but now without force. In this ordinance He Himself is always specially present to lead each participant to feel the pulse of conscience, to awaken understanding of the lessons symbolized, to revive memory, to convict of sin, and to receive penitential offerings. It teaches that brother is not to exalt himself above brother and that the dangers of disunion and strife must be seen because the health and holy activity of the soul are involved. To own Him as Master and Lord is to eat His body and drink His blood not merely at the sacramental service but by daily partaking of Him as the bread of life that alone satisfies soul-hunger, receiving His Word and doing His will. The verse belongs to John 13 through 17, which plainly outline God's will and mean just what God says.
It is the privilege of ministers acquainted with present truth who minister in word and doctrine to believe every verse in these chapters and to live them out before their fellow ministers in genuine missionary work, which requires their conversion. Living this teaching brings unity with one another and with Christ and is the remedy for dissension.
Example of Humble Service
Stooping to wash feet did not lessen dignity or authority, and greatness and infinite superiority gave grace and significance to the humble service. He remains truly Master and Lord even while serving as the lowest servant, equal with God and exalted yet making Himself one with people of every rank to impart His gifts. His authority gives weight and meaning to what He did, turning condescension into proof of divinity rather than loss of honor.
Lordship is expressed in humble service, showing that true greatness is found in humility and loving service to others. Because He as Lord and Master washed feet, followers ought to wash one another's feet and do as He did, for the servant is not greater than his lord. Those who know these things are happy if they do them, serving one another humbly and faithfully rather than considering themselves above such service. His title does not lift Him above lowly duty but makes His humility the binding pattern, authorizing and requiring the same ministry from those who call Him by those names.
The act rebukes selfishness, striving for the highest place, and contending for honor or rank, replacing disputing with shame and a new view of self remembered for life. It teaches counting others better than self, for he that is greatest shall be servant, and he who humbles himself in service has the Spirit of Christ and is placed where he can safely be honored. The chapter is to be studied carefully and prayerfully as a rebuke to seeking higher position, calling for humility, repentance, and dependence on God through Jesus Christ, and warning against betrayal as Judas did. Nor is anyone to consider himself too exalted to serve or superior to the humblest believer.
The lesson reaches beyond the outward act to the whole pattern of life and conduct. True humility and discipleship are shown not by profession alone but by loving, faithful, unselfish service, which kindles love and helps disciples understand His teaching. The example is especially a lesson in humility for gospel ministers, teaching that greatness in His kingdom is no reason to refuse humble service. John 13 through 17 plainly outlines God's will meaning just what it says, and it is the privilege of ministers acquainted with present truth to believe every verse and live them out before fellow ministers in genuine missionary work, which requires their conversion.
Ordinance for the Church
He made the foot-washing a consecrated ordinance to keep His followers mindful of humility and service and to prepare them for communion, a religious service and not mere hospitality for travelers, given to test loyalty and to come before sharing the emblems of His death. It is joined with the Lord's supper after humble confession, bringing deep gratification and a good work in those who take part. His example and command are to be followed literally and as exactly as possible together with the Lord's supper, kept in the evening with youth, first-time seekers, newly converted and educated men all taking part. First the feet are washed and then are eaten broken bread for His broken body and drunk juice of the vine for His spilled blood, and kept when revival and blessing are sought this draws the largest number, brings solemn impression, settles believers into the work, and is solemn and profitable with humbling before God in weeping and rejoicing when its meaning is made plain with fitting instruction.
Its real object is to teach humility, so it is not to be treated in a mechanical way or as merely a tedious form or ceremony, but done judiciously and understandingly with care to avoid confusion. Keeping this duty with the Lord's supper more frequently keeps His people humble and separate from the world and from backsliding like the nominal churches. It is to be brought into new places with carefulness and wisdom at a proper time and manner where people do not know His example and teaching or are prejudiced against this plain duty through former trusted teachers.
It is to be practiced by the saints with separation of the sexes, men leading the men and women leading the women until all take part, sisters washing sisters' feet, for men and women washing each other's feet together is not the right thing to do. The order to be kept allows sisters to wash the feet of brethren according to gospel order, shown by Mary washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with the hair of her head, while there is no warrant for brethren to wash sisters' feet. The washing of saints' feet and the communion must be held apart entirely from unbelievers, for He took His disciples apart alone separate from the wicked, and doing them among unbelievers brings reproach on the cause. A Judas may from time to time appear to be with the disciples and partake to his own damnation, but God will quickly make him manifest and he will be purged out from among Israel.
In the ordinance He Himself as Lord is always specially present as witness, with angels watching and the atmosphere of heaven surrounding, to impress hearts, awaken understanding of the lessons symbolized, revive memory, convict of sin, receive penitential offerings, unfold love, reveal God's character, and recover man from sin. In washing one another's feet His followers stand in His place and are brought into close relationship with Him as present Lord, with light from above and the way below guiding into all truth every soul who comes to Him. Unseen heavenly and evil messengers witness these services.
As His last established ordinance in connection with the last supper, given because the disciples needed it, it speaks less to intellectual capacity than to heart and moral and spiritual nature to disentangle them from ceremonies hitherto held essential but now without force. It teaches that brother is not to exalt himself above brother and that the dangers of disunion and strife must be seen because the health and holy activity of the soul are involved. To own Him as Master and Lord is to eat His body and drink His blood not merely at the sacramental service but by daily partaking of Him as the bread of life that alone satisfies soul-hunger, receiving His Word and doing His will.
Unity and Heart Cleansing
Living the instruction of this chapter is the remedy for dissension, bringing unity with one another and oneness with Christ. The ordinance of foot washing was given to teach humility and to bring believers together, assimilating their hearts in oneness with Christ. Disregard for these words leaves pride and self-sufficiency, evil thinking and evil speaking, and planning without the Lord's help, with contention and strife among those who should be one in Christ.
Joined with the supper it is a season of self-examination to know the true feelings of the heart toward God and one another. It exposes pride and selfishness and hatred, and leads to mutual confession and forbearance and forgiveness of one another's errors. It leads to true love like the love with which He loved His disciples well enough to die for them, preparatory to commemorating His sufferings and death. It keeps fresh in remembrance that redemption is purchased upon conditions of humility and continual obedience, with happiness for those who know and do these things.
His humility as Master and Lord in washing feet is to be called to mind and copied in the ordinance before the Lord's Supper. That copying clears away esteeming self above a brother, and working and serving for self. It clears away seeking the highest place, and evil surmisings and bitterness over trifles, bringing man down from self-exaltation to wash his brother's feet. The whole chapter should be studied carefully and prayerfully as a rebuke to striving for higher position, calling for humility and repentance and dependence on God through Jesus Christ, and warning against betraying the Lord as Judas did.
Patience Toward the Erring
As Master and Lord He truly is what His disciples rightly called Him, and His authority was shown together with humility when, though equal with God and infinitely superior, He stooped to wash the feet of all His disciples without lessening His dignity, giving grace and meaning to the humble act and demonstrating His divinity in condescension. He tenderly included Judas the betrayer in that ministry at the Passover supper even after Judas had agreed to betray Him, revealing the betrayer's purpose while giving him a final appeal of love and an opportunity to repent and be cleansed. Judas rejected that appeal, and the feet that had been washed then went out to betray Him. The disciples' faults did not stop Him from serving them and inviting them to repentance and cleansing, and because He as Lord and Master washed their feet they are not above serving one another but are blessed when they put His example into practice, finding true greatness in humility and loving service.
The washing and the ordinance at the table are not to be withheld or refused because another is thought unworthy, and professing Christians are not to be excluded, for Judas was washed and kept at the table though known to be about to betray Him. Human beings cannot read hearts or the secrets of the soul and cannot distinguish the sincere from the insincere or decide who may take part. His treatment teaches His followers to bear patiently with others at fault and not to abandon someone because he is in error, but to serve and invite to repentance and cleansing. So He endured even Judas whom He knew would betray Him, continued to work with Peter despite repeated failings, and showed long patience with a disloyal disciple kept among the apostles, teaching His followers to bear patiently with false believers.
Unseen heavenly and evil messengers witness these services.
The disciples rightly call Him Master and Lord, and they say well, for so He truly is even while He stoops to serve them. Though equal with God and infinitely exalted, He shows His divinity in this condescension as God manifest in the flesh, worthy of the allegiance of the whole mind, will, soul and strength. His greatness gives grace and significance to the humble act, proving that true greatness is found in humility and loving service and that washing feet does not lessen His dignity or authority. Because He as Lord and Master washed their feet, His followers ought to do as He did and wash one another's feet, for the servant is not greater than his lord. He made the act a consecrated ordinance to come before communion to teach humility, bring self-examination and confession, and unite hearts in oneness with Him and with one another.
Setting at Last Supper
These words were spoken in the upper chamber on the night before death at the last Passover supper, the last sacred gathering before the crucifixion when He was nearest the hour of ascending to the Father. As the pure spotless Lamb presenting Himself as a sin-offering He ate the Passover with His disciples, ending four thousand years of sacrifices and replacing the Jewish national festival with the memorial service of feet washing and the sacramental supper to be repeated in every country through all time. He affirmed that the disciples called Him Master and Lord rightly, for so He truly is, yet He had just served as the lowest servant to rebuke pride and give them a new view of themselves.
They had come with selfish hearts heated by strife over who should be greatest and have the highest place in the promised kingdom, and while their dispute about which of them should be accounted greatest was still fresh He served them. This humbling act exposed their selfishness and contention and brought them shame.
Without a word He laid aside His outer garment, girded Himself with a towel as a servant, and washed their feet to open their eyes, reveal their pride, and fill them with shame and humiliation they would remember for life. By that title of Master and Lord He gave authority to His example and required all who believe in Him to do as He did and wash one another's feet. Because their Lord and Master washed their feet, they ought to wash one another's feet, for the servant is not greater than his lord, and happiness comes from knowing and doing this humble service.
He took His disciples away alone, separate entirely from the wicked and unbelievers, first washed their feet and then gave them to eat of broken bread to represent His broken body and to drink of the juice of the vine to represent His spilled blood. The washing of saints' feet and the communion must therefore be held apart from unbelievers, for doing them among unbelievers brings reproach on the cause.
Meaning of Master and Lord
The disciples call Him Master and Lord, and they speak correctly, for that is truly what He is, and He remains so even while stooping to wash their feet. His authority is not lessened by that lowly service but is shown alongside it, and because He who is their Lord and Master served them, they are to serve one another in the same way rather than contend for honor or rank. Though He is Lord, He did not consider Himself above such service, and His followers are therefore not above serving one another, but are blessed when they put His example into practice, even toward a betrayer. Though equal with God, He demonstrated His authority and divinity through this condescension, stooping to humble service without loss of dignity. He is infinitely superior and exalted, yet His greatness gave grace and significance to that service, for He made Himself one with people of every rank and circumstance so He could impart His gifts to them. He is God manifest in the flesh and one with God, worthy of every knee's submission, and at the supper He tenderly included Judas even after Judas had agreed to betray Him, giving him a final appeal of love which Judas rejected.
His authority is His alone, and it rightly claims full service and the allegiance of the whole mind, will, soul, and strength. His claim to be Master and Lord is no blasphemy, and those who recognize His authority should make a determined effort to represent Him rightly. As Master and Lord He has authority and foundation over all the Jewish ordinances that pointed to Him, and He used that authority to discharge His disciples from the cares and burdens of ancient rites and ceremonies. Type was meeting antitype in Himself as the great and only efficacious offering for the sins of the world, so that to continue those rites after receiving the gospel would insult Jehovah. As Master and Lord He gave instead this simple ordinance as His last established ordinance in connection with the last supper, because His disciples needed it.
It speaks less to intellectual capacity than to heart and moral and spiritual nature, to disentangle them from ceremonies hitherto held essential but now without force. In this ordinance He Himself is always specially present to lead each participant to feel the pulse of conscience, to awaken understanding of the lessons symbolized, to revive memory, to convict of sin, and to receive penitential offerings. It teaches that brother is not to exalt himself above brother and that the dangers of disunion and strife must be seen because the health and holy activity of the soul are involved. To own Him as Master and Lord is to eat His body and drink His blood not merely at the sacramental service but by daily partaking of Him as the bread of life that alone satisfies soul-hunger, receiving His Word and doing His will. The verse belongs to John 13 through 17, which plainly outline God's will and mean just what God says.
It is the privilege of ministers acquainted with present truth who minister in word and doctrine to believe every verse in these chapters and to live them out before their fellow ministers in genuine missionary work, which requires their conversion. Living this teaching brings unity with one another and with Christ and is the remedy for dissension.
Example of Humble Service
Stooping to wash feet did not lessen dignity or authority, and greatness and infinite superiority gave grace and significance to the humble service. He remains truly Master and Lord even while serving as the lowest servant, equal with God and exalted yet making Himself one with people of every rank to impart His gifts. His authority gives weight and meaning to what He did, turning condescension into proof of divinity rather than loss of honor.
Lordship is expressed in humble service, showing that true greatness is found in humility and loving service to others. Because He as Lord and Master washed feet, followers ought to wash one another's feet and do as He did, for the servant is not greater than his lord. Those who know these things are happy if they do them, serving one another humbly and faithfully rather than considering themselves above such service. His title does not lift Him above lowly duty but makes His humility the binding pattern, authorizing and requiring the same ministry from those who call Him by those names.
The act rebukes selfishness, striving for the highest place, and contending for honor or rank, replacing disputing with shame and a new view of self remembered for life. It teaches counting others better than self, for he that is greatest shall be servant, and he who humbles himself in service has the Spirit of Christ and is placed where he can safely be honored. The chapter is to be studied carefully and prayerfully as a rebuke to seeking higher position, calling for humility, repentance, and dependence on God through Jesus Christ, and warning against betrayal as Judas did. Nor is anyone to consider himself too exalted to serve or superior to the humblest believer.
The lesson reaches beyond the outward act to the whole pattern of life and conduct. True humility and discipleship are shown not by profession alone but by loving, faithful, unselfish service, which kindles love and helps disciples understand His teaching. The example is especially a lesson in humility for gospel ministers, teaching that greatness in His kingdom is no reason to refuse humble service. John 13 through 17 plainly outlines God's will meaning just what it says, and it is the privilege of ministers acquainted with present truth to believe every verse and live them out before fellow ministers in genuine missionary work, which requires their conversion.
Ordinance for the Church
He made the foot-washing a consecrated ordinance to keep His followers mindful of humility and service and to prepare them for communion, a religious service and not mere hospitality for travelers, given to test loyalty and to come before sharing the emblems of His death. It is joined with the Lord's supper after humble confession, bringing deep gratification and a good work in those who take part. His example and command are to be followed literally and as exactly as possible together with the Lord's supper, kept in the evening with youth, first-time seekers, newly converted and educated men all taking part. First the feet are washed and then are eaten broken bread for His broken body and drunk juice of the vine for His spilled blood, and kept when revival and blessing are sought this draws the largest number, brings solemn impression, settles believers into the work, and is solemn and profitable with humbling before God in weeping and rejoicing when its meaning is made plain with fitting instruction.
Its real object is to teach humility, so it is not to be treated in a mechanical way or as merely a tedious form or ceremony, but done judiciously and understandingly with care to avoid confusion. Keeping this duty with the Lord's supper more frequently keeps His people humble and separate from the world and from backsliding like the nominal churches. It is to be brought into new places with carefulness and wisdom at a proper time and manner where people do not know His example and teaching or are prejudiced against this plain duty through former trusted teachers.
It is to be practiced by the saints with separation of the sexes, men leading the men and women leading the women until all take part, sisters washing sisters' feet, for men and women washing each other's feet together is not the right thing to do. The order to be kept allows sisters to wash the feet of brethren according to gospel order, shown by Mary washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with the hair of her head, while there is no warrant for brethren to wash sisters' feet. The washing of saints' feet and the communion must be held apart entirely from unbelievers, for He took His disciples apart alone separate from the wicked, and doing them among unbelievers brings reproach on the cause. A Judas may from time to time appear to be with the disciples and partake to his own damnation, but God will quickly make him manifest and he will be purged out from among Israel.
In the ordinance He Himself as Lord is always specially present as witness, with angels watching and the atmosphere of heaven surrounding, to impress hearts, awaken understanding of the lessons symbolized, revive memory, convict of sin, receive penitential offerings, unfold love, reveal God's character, and recover man from sin. In washing one another's feet His followers stand in His place and are brought into close relationship with Him as present Lord, with light from above and the way below guiding into all truth every soul who comes to Him. Unseen heavenly and evil messengers witness these services.
As His last established ordinance in connection with the last supper, given because the disciples needed it, it speaks less to intellectual capacity than to heart and moral and spiritual nature to disentangle them from ceremonies hitherto held essential but now without force. It teaches that brother is not to exalt himself above brother and that the dangers of disunion and strife must be seen because the health and holy activity of the soul are involved. To own Him as Master and Lord is to eat His body and drink His blood not merely at the sacramental service but by daily partaking of Him as the bread of life that alone satisfies soul-hunger, receiving His Word and doing His will.
Unity and Heart Cleansing
Living the instruction of this chapter is the remedy for dissension, bringing unity with one another and oneness with Christ. The ordinance of foot washing was given to teach humility and to bring believers together, assimilating their hearts in oneness with Christ. Disregard for these words leaves pride and self-sufficiency, evil thinking and evil speaking, and planning without the Lord's help, with contention and strife among those who should be one in Christ.
Joined with the supper it is a season of self-examination to know the true feelings of the heart toward God and one another. It exposes pride and selfishness and hatred, and leads to mutual confession and forbearance and forgiveness of one another's errors. It leads to true love like the love with which He loved His disciples well enough to die for them, preparatory to commemorating His sufferings and death. It keeps fresh in remembrance that redemption is purchased upon conditions of humility and continual obedience, with happiness for those who know and do these things.
His humility as Master and Lord in washing feet is to be called to mind and copied in the ordinance before the Lord's Supper. That copying clears away esteeming self above a brother, and working and serving for self. It clears away seeking the highest place, and evil surmisings and bitterness over trifles, bringing man down from self-exaltation to wash his brother's feet. The whole chapter should be studied carefully and prayerfully as a rebuke to striving for higher position, calling for humility and repentance and dependence on God through Jesus Christ, and warning against betraying the Lord as Judas did.
Patience Toward the Erring
As Master and Lord He truly is what His disciples rightly called Him, and His authority was shown together with humility when, though equal with God and infinitely superior, He stooped to wash the feet of all His disciples without lessening His dignity, giving grace and meaning to the humble act and demonstrating His divinity in condescension. He tenderly included Judas the betrayer in that ministry at the Passover supper even after Judas had agreed to betray Him, revealing the betrayer's purpose while giving him a final appeal of love and an opportunity to repent and be cleansed. Judas rejected that appeal, and the feet that had been washed then went out to betray Him. The disciples' faults did not stop Him from serving them and inviting them to repentance and cleansing, and because He as Lord and Master washed their feet they are not above serving one another but are blessed when they put His example into practice, finding true greatness in humility and loving service.
The washing and the ordinance at the table are not to be withheld or refused because another is thought unworthy, and professing Christians are not to be excluded, for Judas was washed and kept at the table though known to be about to betray Him. Human beings cannot read hearts or the secrets of the soul and cannot distinguish the sincere from the insincere or decide who may take part. His treatment teaches His followers to bear patiently with others at fault and not to abandon someone because he is in error, but to serve and invite to repentance and cleansing. So He endured even Judas whom He knew would betray Him, continued to work with Peter despite repeated failings, and showed long patience with a disloyal disciple kept among the apostles, teaching His followers to bear patiently with false believers.
Unseen heavenly and evil messengers witness these services.