Joy Is Not the Absence of Suffering: Lessons from Jesus Washing the Disciples' Feet (John 13)

In this week's episode, we read through the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet in John 13. In this incredibly powerful chapter, Jesus gives us these living metaphors and these pictures because he wants us to have a new idea in our mind, a new understanding of what reality truly is. Because from those places in us where reality truly is, when we ask the question, okay, what does this mean for us? What does this mean? That reality is Jesus reshaping the concept of what matters in life. He's reshaping the activity that leads to joy. He's saying love plus security plus humility equals joy.

What Does It Say?

Jesus loves them to the end

Jesus’ power - “He knew he had all power” - what would you do next if you knew you had all power? No one would pick the thing that Jesus does next. Because Jesus knew all these things, SO he got up, and washed his disciple's feet.

Backstory -

Footwashing was a common act of hospitality in that time, usually performed by a slave. If someone of standing were to do it, it would have been seen as an ultimate act of honor.

What Does it Mean?

Jesus’ foot washing was a metaphor, an image of what love means - settled, confident, secure love. Service with humility and sacrifice. He's doing a menial act, but what he's really doing is saying, “if you want to be a part of me, this is what he says to Peter, if you want to be a part of me, you have to let me do this.” 

What Does It Mean for Me?

If you want to experience life with Jesus, you have to let him love you. You have to let him care for you. You have to let him see you for who you really are, which is a person who does need to be cleansed, right? And Jesus is saying to them, like, hey, you don't need to do this over and over again. It's not like a baptism over and over again. You already know me, you're clean and you're in me, but this is an act of me caring for you. This is an ongoing, this is what ongoing relationship looks like with me. What I'm doing for you, I am asking you do to for others.

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