What did Jesus do at the Lord’s Supper? (John 13:1-17)

Three introductory matters are worth noting before we consider some details from this passage describing what went on in the Upper Room on the evening of Jesus’ arrest. This passage certainly describes an unusual event.

 

First, as far as we know, Jesus only attended one occasion of the Lord’s Supper, this one which was the first one ever held on that Passover evening. It is possible that it was held in the period between his resurrection and ascension, but if it was, it is not mentioned in the accounts we have of him meeting with his disciples after he rose from the dead. 

In any case, the event we know about was a special occasion for him, because Luke records that Jesus told the disciples that he had anticipated being there with strong desire – ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’ (Luke 22:15). Therefore, we should think about the intensity of Jesus’ desire with regard to the event.

 

The second introductory point is to note the silence of John regarding the Lord’s Supper on this occasion. While we don’t know why John did not mention it, even in passing, we know that the incident of washing their feet took place shortly before the Supper was held. John was guided not to include a reference to the Lord’s Supper, which some might see as odd, but which we should see as God’s involvement by the Holy Spirit. As we know the other Gospels do not mention the incident of washing feet. There are many details not mentioned by one Gospel author that are mentioned by the others. The biblical accounts are always evidence of God’s interest in his people, whether he adds something in or leaves something out.

 

A third introductory point is that it is obvious from this account as well as from the other three Gospel accounts that things did not have to be perfect when the meeting took place, including the spiritual state of the disciples. What is clear, however, is that Jesus valued meeting with imperfect saints, even those that he knew would deny him in a few hours time. And it has been the same ever since. There has probably never been an occasion of the Lord’s Supper where all was ideal. And the one this weekend will have its flaws. But the Saviour will be glad to be here by his Spirit.

 

Jesus revealed his outlook

John emphasises that Jesus knew who he was: he knew ‘that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God.’ Of course, that statement reveals an incredible self-understanding. Yet it was his understanding wherever he was, and it is good for us to remind ourselves of that whenever we read about him in the Bible. He always had glory on his mind, and we can see this also when we read his prayer in John 17 which he made a short time later. No doubt, John is indicating that true service comes out from an attitude of thinking about the glory of heaven.

We are aware of the common attitude that suggests that if ‘people knew who I was they would not speak to me like that.’ Perhaps we have all thought in that way at times. Think of how Peter and the other disciples spoke to Jesus on this occasion recorded in the Upper Room, especially in the next chapter as he spoke to them about the Father’s house. And then think about the ongoing focus of his mind as he met with them.

 

What kind of man was Jesus? Obviously, he was sinless in thought, word and deed. He was holy and dedicated to God’s will all the time. Undoubtedly, he was also full of love, as John indicates in verse 1: ‘Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.’ Yet it is obvious that the characteristic that John highlights in this passage about Jesus is his humility. Jesus approached the Lord’s Supper in a humble mind. Of course, the disciples did not know that he was going to introduce the Lord’s Supper that evening, but he did.

 

No doubt, we are familiar with Jesus and humility. Did he not say to the disciples that he was among them as a servant (Luke 22:27)? In Mark 10:45, he stated, ‘For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ He described himself as being ‘gentle and lowly in heart’ in Matthew 11:29. We have all read Paul’s description of Jesus in Philippians 2 where the apostle writes that the Son of God humbled himself to become a man, and then as the God/man humbled himself to go to the death of the cross. As Paul says in that passage, Jesus made himself of no reputation, or as it can mean ‘a nobody’. Of course, he did so without ceasing to be wholly divine. Still it was voluntary condescension to an amazing degree!

 

What can we say about his expression of humility on this occasion? We can see that it was diligent and personal and involved him engaging in an activity that was a basic human kindness in that society. Normally, when a person went to another home for a meal, the host would have made arrangements for someone, usually a low-grade servant, to wash the feet of all the guests. Inevitably, the guests would be made to feel superior to at least one person in the room – the servant washing their feet.

 

Jesus, as the host, could have selected one of the disciples to perform this role. But if he had done so, he would have indicated that he regarded that disciple as the lowest of them. It was wiser obviously for one of them to volunteer to do it, but such an action would not have fitted in with their shared current desire to be regarded as the greatest among them. Not one of them was willing to be regarded as the lowest. Yet the Lord of glory was willing to do so. The greatest was willing to be the least. His unexpected response surprised them, no doubt, and may have embarrassed them because it was not the usual way a teacher behaved. But he did it, working his way round the room, kneeling before them in turn.

 

Jesus described twofold cleansing

In the process of going round the room, the Saviour then had an interaction with Peter. It seems that those previously washed by Jesus had said nothing to Jesus. Did any of those disciples thank Jesus for washing their feet? Clearly, Peter thought it was inappropriate for Jesus to wash anyone’s feet and said so in strong terms. He was never slow to state his opinion, even on occasions when it was obvious he should remain silent.

 

The interaction led to an explanation by Jesus of twofold cleansing, and his explanation is very important to appreciate whenever the Lord’s Supper is held. In his explanation Jesus used two images to help Peter, and us, understand the double application of the benefits of his atoning death, particularly so when we remember his death because we are to think intelligently about the benefits connected to it.

 

The first image is that of a bath and it indicates the kind of cleansing that a sinner receives at conversion when he believes the gospel and trusts in Jesus. This applies to all sinners, even to great sinners. In a bath, a person washes himself all over and that type of washing pictures the overall cleansing that happens when a sinner believes in Jesus for the first time. He is pardoned all his sins and is accepted as righteous in God’s sight.

 

The second image is that of washing one’s feet after being outside walking along the road or working in a field. It was impossible for such a person not to have unclean feet. Yet when he came home, he did not need a bath but a wash. This illustrates the sins that affect us on a daily basis. We do not need to go back to where we were at conversion as if we needed to be converted again. Rather we need to engage in frequent washing as indicated by the apostle John when he encouraged his readers to confess their sins and as they did so they should realise that the blood of Jesus cleanses his people from their sins.

 

Yet what is needed in the equivalent of washing our feet? The answer is that we need to have what was required at the beginning, which is faith and repentance. Yet faith has to have knowledge of the success of this confession. Spurgeon once said about such faith that ‘it also requires a steady confidence to resort to Jesus under a thousand conscious failures and backsliding year after year.’ The importance of faith is its grasp of information, and in this case it concerns the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice, how our repeated sins are dealt with effectively by his atonement.

 

When we examine ourselves, it is not mainly our outward actions that should concern us. Rather it is our spirituality, the depth of our repentance, the strength of our affections, the vitality of our faith. We cannot have fellowship without cleansing.

 

When the Supper is over

After Jesus had returned to his seat, he asked the disciples if they understood what he had done. The basic way of understanding his statements is to recognise that he is our example in expressions of humble service. We can see that from his comment that we call him Master and Lord, words that are easy to say, but what do they mean in practice? It looks to me that the reference to washing one another’s feet indicates we are to be concerned about one another’s sanctification, one another’s holiness. That will mean different actions according to circumstances.

 

One obvious way of doing this is to pray for defects we see in one another, by speaking to the Lord about them rather than to other people. The Lord expects us to do that, and he observes when such intercession does not take place. Another way is mutual spiritual encouragement in which we mention scriptural promises to one another, perhaps because we have found soul nourishment in them. A third way is by indicating that we are delighted to belong to the family of God and to have fellow Christians as our brothers and sisters. We all have this opportunity this weekend.