THIS FEETWASHING FORM WAS NOT A MERE HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

THIS FEETWASHING FORM WAS NOT A MERE HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE       

John 13:12-15

"So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye not what I have done to you? 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".

1. There are those who insist that this action on the part of Christ in the upper room was an event in history and nothing more. That this action was an event in history one cannot dispute. But that the matter ends right there must be denied. Verses 12-15 give the lie to such a conclusion. The logic of Christ's reasoning makes it absolutely certain that He intended that this performance was to be repeated by the disciples and their successors. He makes the bold declaration that they know what He has done to them. The question mark at the end of vs. 12 should be replaced by a period. That question mark is purely the translators’ con­clusion on the basis of a copy made by a scribe. The Form of the sentence could require a period just as well as a question mark. There were few punctuation marks in the original manuscripts, so scribes punctuated as they pre­ferred. While the disciples did not know the meaning of Christ's action, they did know the motions he had perform­ed.

2.   Christ now lays the foundation for the command which He is about to give. "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am". The word Master is the old English word for teacher, and the original word is teacher. This always meant the authoritative source of information. The word Lord meant the absolute right to command. They did call Christ Teacher and Lord, as an examination of the N.T. record in the Gospels will clearly attest. And Christ also makes it clear that their reference to Him in those capa­cities was correct. He was Teacher in that He was the au­thoritative source of information; and He was Lord in that he had the absolute right to command.

3.   As Lord Christ now issues a command. That is given in vs. 14. "Ye also ought to wash one another's feet". "Also" means in addition to what I have done. This calls for repetition. The word "ought" is the word which expresses moral obligation. It means that the disciples have a debt to perform. The paying of that debt is something that demands a continuous repetition. The word is in the present tense is durative or linear in significance. It calls for a con­stant performance of this act. The word "wash" is a present infinitive and is likewise durative and linear in meaning. The two together mean that the disciples are continuously obligated to wash and keep on washing one another's feet. This is the command of one who has the absolute right to command and be obeyed.

4.   As Teacher Christ now points to the example. He has given. That is stated in vs. 15. "For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you". The word "For" points to a logical conclusion. If as teacher He has given authoritative information, then that is the informa­tion they should follow. That information has been given in the form of an example. The word example means a showing under their eyes. They saw what He did. Every detail of His action was under the clear scrutiny of each one of those disciple. Because the whole performance was so ut­terly new, each disciple had fastened his eyes on the op­eration and the ear of each was tuned to every word. This was a clear demonstration providing for them authoritative information for them to follow. As teacher He calls on them to do exactly as He had done. "Should do" is a present subjective, indicating that He expects them to continue to carry on this same performance.