The Way of the Towel
December 18, 2022
We like to be served. As much as we think we are self-reliant, we actually live most of our lives dependent on the servants in our lives. We’ve actually grown accustomed to being served. Think about your home for a moment. Our homes are all equipped with modern conveniences that make our lives easier- that serve us: things like dishwashers, microwaves, refrigerators, washers and dryers. Now, we rarely think about how we’ve become dependent on these servants until they stop working. Like, the other morning, I was taking my normal shower, letting the stream of hot water wake me up and prepare me for the day, when all of the sudden the water pressure got weaker and weaker to the point there was just a trickle coming out. I had to work like crazy to get all the shampoo out of my scalp in case the water stopped completely. But soon the water pressure came back up again, and it got me to thinking. How would life be if there wasn’t enough water for my daily consumption? Did you know that the average 2 person household consumes nearly 138 gallons every day – for brushing our teeth, cooking our meals, washing our bodies, using the toilet, watering our plants.
The point I’m making is that we often forget how dependent we are on things like hot water heaters and easy access to clean water. But these are not the only things that remind me that we like to be served. I mean, if you have enough cash, you never have to do any of the menial tasks of life. You can hire a maid to clean your house, a landscaping crew to trim your plants, and you can even hire someone to shop for you and deliver your groceries. Face it, we have a whole culture that’s designed to serve us. We like having people serve us our dinner. We love having Fed Ex, Uber or Amazon bring us whatever we need whenever we need it. We don’t even have to wash our own cars anymore. Did you know there are 16 different Car Wash businesses in Casa Grande alone? We don’t just like to be served – we love to be served.
Of course, this attitude of wanting to be served is nothing new. It’s been around for thousands of years. By nature, we tend to avoid the menial, trivial and mundane tasks of life. We’d rather have someone else clean our toilets, trim our bushes, wash our cars, or bring us groceries. It’s just not our nature to serve… But it is Christ’s. Serving us is at the heart of who He is. It’s the essence of His being. For when He serves us, He not only blesses us, but He shows us what God is like. For Jesus himself said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many.”Mark 10:45
So, today we’re going to look at the servant heart of Jesus – this attitude of putting the needs of others ahead of your own. And as we do, we’re not just going to learn more about what Jesus is like, but we’re going to see how Jesus calls us to follow His example and serve one another just like Him. So, if you brought your Bible with you today, let me encourage you to find John 13:1-17, where Jesus shows us how we can live like him, by showing us the way of the towel. What is the way of the towel? First,
The way of the towel is the way of love: Look at verse one: It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; John 13:1-3
John begins this encounter by giving this unique picture into Jesus’ disposition on the night of this meal. Jesus is keenly aware of three things. First, Jesus knows he’s at the end of his mission: The hour has come for him to leave this world and return to his Father. So, he knows that this is his last night with his disciples before he faces the brutality of his crucifixion. Second, he knows that the evil one has already prompted Judas to betray him. But even at that, Jesus is not shaken in any way. For He also knows the Father has put all things under his power, and that he has come from God and was returning to God. Jesus has a complete grasp of everything that was about to happen. Nothing that’s about to take place will take him by surprise. For all authority of the Father is at His disposal. This is an amazing reality. For at any time, Jesus could use his power to change what was coming at him. He could use his power to stop Judas from betraying Him. He could use His power to stop the guards from arresting Him. He could use His power to end the sham trial that would go down later this night. And He could use His power to come down from the cross. Jesus could use his power in the same way the world uses its power – as a power to use for His own advantage… But that’s not how Jesus will use his power. No, rather than do any of these things, he does the opposite – he thinks nothing of himself and only of His disciples. This is a special night, and He wants to express His love for His disciples in a special way. So rather than assume the position of authority that is rightfully His, He takes the position of a servant and begins to wash the dirty feet of each disciple at this meal: He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.John 13:4-5
Now, none of them understood what was happening at first. If anything, as soon as Jesus started washing their feet, they were shocked by his behavior. To understand why they were shocked, we need to understand that foot washing was a common act in Bible times. People traveled mostly on foot in sandals across the dusty roads of Judea. When entering a home, it was customary to wash one’s feet. To not offer to wash a guest’s feet was considered a breach of hospitality. But washing guest’s feet was the job for a household servant to carry out when guests arrived. It was a subservient task – wives might wash their husband’s feet; students their teachers’ feet, etc., but not the other way around. So what shocked these disciples was that Jesus, their Master and Teacher, would stoop to do such a lowly task for them.
But let’s not forget – this is how Jesus decides to give each of them the full extent of His love. Think about it: How many pairs of feet did Jesus wash? Twelve. Jesus even washed the feet of Judas, knowing full well what he was going to do. Judas is in league with Satan at this point, but Jesus still stoops before him and slowly washes the caked dirt and grime off his feet. Then he washes the feet of Peter who will deny him three times before the sunrises. And he continues to wash the feet of the other 10, knowing full well that they too will abandon him before the night is through.
So then, this is a beautiful picture of how God loves not only His disciples, but how He loves us. Let this picture sink in. For Jesus, no one is beneath being served. It didn’t matter if you were going to betray him, deny him, or abandon him. He was going to serve you no matter what. Why? Why would he do this, even for Judas? Well, for Jesus, serving even the worst among us is a natural expression of who He is. And His service for you or anyone else does not depend on how you respond to Him. From the least to the greatest; from the most deserving to the least deserving – Jesus does whatever it takes to meet your need. For that’s what a servant does…
That’s the way of the towel. The way of the towel is the way of unconditional love. Jesus sets His needs aside to meet our needs. He cleans the filthiest feet. He cleans the foulest sinner. He cleans the most unworthy among us. He did it then and He still does it today – because that’s the way of love.
And the way of love is about to become very clear to Peter, for as Jesus approaches Peter, we’re going to see that Jesus has to explain His love to him. And as He does, he clarifies the next truth that’s found in the way of the towel, and that is this: The way of the towel is the way of the cross: let’s pick it up in verse 6 – He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” John 13:6-8
You see, up to this point the disciples had quietly watched the Messiah doing servant’s work. Some say they may have been embarrassed. Obviously, they were stunned. So much so, that when Jesus approaches Peter to wash his feet, Peter strongly objects. Seeing his teacher behave like a lowly slave didn’t sit right with him. Peter felt he should be washing his Master’s feet – not the other way around. Even after Jesus tells him that he will understand later, Peter still defies Jesus. “No, you shall never wash my feet!” “Not in million years, Jesus.” “The day you wash my feet is the day hell freezes over.” That’s sounds a bit over the top. But that was Peter. He was adamant. In fact, you might think he’s being a bit arrogant here. But his defiance towards Jesus was not out of arrogance… but out of reverence. For how Peter was responding to Jesus here, is how most everyone in his day would respond to a superior taking the position of the lowliest slave – this just wasn’t appropriate behavior for someone of Jesus’ stature. No one would think it was right for a superior to take on the role of a slave, especially the role of a foot washer. This just wasn’t right.
But what Peter didn’t grasp at this moment, was that Jesus was teaching him, and every disciple in that room, and in this room – that to be a leader – one must first be a servant. But at this point, Peter has no idea what Jesus is talking about. So, Jesus sets him straight. Jesus answers, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” John 13:8
Jesus’ rebuke is carefully worded. When Jesus says, “Unless I wash you” means that the question is not simply that of washing, but a question of who is doing the washing. Peter MUST LET JESUS SERVE HIM. He needs a cleansing that only Jesus can supply. This is no longer just about dirty feet. If Peter is NOT WASHED BY JESUS, he cannot have any “part” with Jesus.
This is a significant truth. They key to understanding Jesus’ washing the feet of Peter, of Jesus cleansing His disciples is found in this term “part.” This term “part” speaks of the gift of inheritance. In the Old Testament, the use of this word referred to land promised in Canaan that Israel was to inherit. As Jesus uses it here, he is speaking of the inheritance of the kingdom. Here is the King on His knees saying to Peter:“Unless I wash you, you will have no part in my kingdom.” What Jesus is speaking of here is the gift of eternal life that He imparts to anyone who is washed by Him at the cross.
Unless you allow Jesus to wash you with His blood, you will have no part with Him in the Kingdom. You will not receive the gift of eternal life that He wants to give to you. That’s what this beautiful symbol of foot washing represents. It shows us that when you let Jesus cleanse you with His blood shed on the cross, He will give you a place with Him in His kingdom. What Jesus is telling Peter and anyone listening today: unless you let Jesus cleanse you, you will miss out on the gift of eternal life.
The way of the towel is the way of the cross. It’s a symbol of who you need to let clean your life of all sin – it’s Jesus. I hope that’s clear to you, for at that moment, it became very clear to Peter: “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For He knew who was going to betray Him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. John 13:9-11 So, let me ask you: Have you let Jesus cleanse you? Without Jesus’ cleansing work you are still in your sins. You can’t wash away your own sin. No amount of sincerity, good works or religious exercises can make you clean. We all need the cleansing that only Jesus can provide. And today He comes to you to cleanse you, just like He did for Peter. And like Peter, we can either object to what He wants to do for us, or we can let Him cleanse us.
In fact, the Bible tells us that when a sinner lets Jesus cleanse him, he is “bathed all over” and his sins are washed away and forgiven. Listen how Paul spells this out in the New Testament: Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men; nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6-9-11
The good news pictured here in this foot washing is this: There is literally no sin which He cannot wash away. All guilt can be forgiven. Even sins we’d be ashamed to admit. The Bible is clear on this: “The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 Let me ask you again: Have you let Jesus cleanse you?
Every one of us must deal with that question. But you may have another question at this point. You may be asking: What does this have to do with learning to serve like Jesus? Everything. For until we humble ourselves and let Jesus serve us, we will not be able to truly serve others with the same love of Jesus. This isn’t to say we can’t and don’t serve others now. But the only way we can truly serve others like Jesus, the only way we can serve without looking for accolades or applause is to first admit we need Jesus to serve us – by letting Him cleanse us! Have you let Jesus cleanse you?
Well, as we can see, Peter got it. Jesus’ word’s hit home. Now it was time for Jesus to hammer home the final purpose of this foot washing – the final purpose of the way of the towel. Look with me now at verse 12,The way of the towel is the new way we are to live When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. John 13:12
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do just as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 12:12-17
The way of the towel is the new way Jesus commands us to live as His followers in this world. What Jesus commands is not an action but an attitude. Foot washing is not the point. Serving one another with the same attitude that Jesus served us is the point. Some have taken this command to literally wash the feet of others, but foot washing can be done arrogantly. It can be performed with a cold, dead, and uncaring heart. That’s why Jesus commands us to serve one another “just as” he has served us. That’s the key. Jesus wants us to serve one another just as He served us. Jesus wants each of us to have the same humility as Him. To take the same humble position of a servant – putting aside our selfish wants, laying down our rights, and emptying ourselves of any sense of entitlement – so we might make ourselves available to meet the need of any brother or sister in Christ who needs our help. Just as Jesus served the twelve.
We are to have the same mindset of Jesus, who washed the dirty feet of His followers. Remember, it was His nature to serve. His service was never dependent on how others might respond to His service. His service didn’t need their approval or applause. He served His disciples simply because He loved them. And now, knowing that this how He modeled His love for His disciples, he has shown us how we’re to love one another.
We aren’t to serve just those that we want to serve, or those who are easy to serve. He commands us to serve the least among us, the broken among us, the worst among us. Look around. There is no one in Christ’s family who’s an exception to this command. For we do not serve as the world serves. We get serve like Jesus has served us. And that’s the way of the towel.
So let me be the first to admit, a life of humble service is not a natural way of life for us. Remember how I started this message? We like to be served. We are used to others serving us. In fact, we can sometimes be pretty harsh if the service we expect isn’t up to par. We can be judgmental. We can complain. But that’s not the way of the towel. For that’s not the way of Jesus. He did not come to be served, but to serve… and He calls us here to take up our towel and serve one another just like Him.
So even though a life of humble service is not a natural way of life for us – the good news today is this: If Jesus is your Lord and Teacher, then you’re already on the path of servanthood. For when you trusted in Him, you let Him serve you. You let Him cleanse you with His blood, shed for you on the cross. And the moment He cleansed you, He changed you. He gave you a new heart. His heart. And now with His heart living in you, He is at work in you even now: changing your desires and goals, your dreams and your wishes, and your attitude toward the people He loves. So now, what was once impossible for you – living a life of humble service – is not only possible; it’s wonderful. For…
When you take up the way of the towel, you’ll stop worrying about what’s in it for you.
When you take up the way of the towel, you’ll no longer care who gets the credit.
And when you take up the way of the towel… it won’t matter if no one ever notices what you doing, because you’ll be blessed by what you do. For you are doing what Jesus saved you to do.
For He took up His towel and washed your dirt away. And now you get to do the same for others. That’s the way of the towel – the way of love, the way of the cross, the way He saved you to live: For it’s the way of humble service – just like Him. Let’s pray.
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