Schreiner: Jesus’ taking upon himself the role of a servant

We also have an allusion to Jesus’ death in the washing of the disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17). Jesus’ love to the end signified his willingness to die for his disciples (John 13:1). The washing represents the cleansing effected by Jesus’ death.

Hence, if Peter refused to be washed, he had “no share” (meros) with Jesus (John 13:8); that is, he has no inheritance among God’s people. Only those who are washed by Jesus enjoy forgiveness of sins. Only one washing is needed because Jesus’ death is efficacious (John 13:10), and the need for the disciples to be washed at this juncture of Jesus’ ministry demonstrates that they still need his cleansing death. Jesus, of course, did not think that physical washing itself was sufficient to grant cleansing. He cleaned Judas’s feet, and yet Judas was not truly clean (John 13:11). Judas did not genuinely belong among those whose sins were forgiven.

Jesus’ taking upon himself the role of a servant in washing the disciples’ feet points forward to his servant role on the cross, where he washed his own by dying for sin and granting cleansing to those who trust in him. All those who have received Jesus’ gracious work and word are genuinely clean (John 15:3)

Schreiner, T. R. (2008). New Testament theology: magnifying God in Christ (pp. 285–286). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

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