Week 3: Death

Gospel Formed Footwashing

This week we move into Jesus' crucifixion and death as a core element of the Gospel. There will be a lot of rich material to read through and ponder upon this week. We start though with our Gospel formed practice for this week. It will be one of the harder practices we will ask you to participate in.

This week we want you to wash someone’s feet. Now washing the kid's feet in the bathtub is not exactly what we are going for. Think of someone that means a lot to you that you want to serve. Humble yourself in embarrassment and ask if you can wash their feet. Undoubtedly, they will decline but be persistent. Explain why you want to do it.

Why do we want you to wash feet on the week we focus on death?

Shouldn’t washing feet have been the practice for last week’s focus on ministry?

Interestingly, when you pay closer attention to John 13, where Jesus washes the disciple's feet, you notice something a little mortifying.

Until chapter 12, Jesus has continually said that his hour has not yet come (2:1-4; 4:21-23; 5:25-28; 7;30; 8:20). Yet, after raising Lazarus from the dead, he announces that “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (12:23). This hour is a reference to his forthcoming crucifixion. This verse directly proceeds the foot-washing narrative in John 13:1. His hour of death has come, and he will display it through foot-washing.

He continues to say that Jesus “loved them to the end” (13:1). The NT scholar Craig Keener points out that this is a double entendre: “end” can imply “to the utmost,” “fully,” as well as “to the point of death.” Jesus is not just about to serve them; he will display his love to the point of death.

John then intentionally uses the language “took off his outer clothing/put on his clothes” (13:4, 12). This is literally translated as “lay aside/take up.” The only other place in John where these phrases occur together is in 10:17-18 when Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd laying aside his life to take it up again.

Finally, John says Jesus “wrapped a towel around his waist” (13:4). John uses the Greek word levtion, which refers to a common cloth or linen. It can also refer to the cloth worn as someone was about to be crucified.

Putting all this together, as Jesus washes his disciple's feet, he is symbolically practicing his death for them. This is Jesus’ proleptic portrayal of his forthcoming crucifixion. Jesus isn’t just scrubbing their toes; he is prophetically washing away their sin in his blood.

As you practice foot washing this week, hold this thought in mind.

Would you take on death in the service of another?

Would you demonstrate the full glory of God through the giving over of your own life?

Would you give your life for the person whose feet you are washing?