By Doug Redford
John does not record Jesus instituting Communion with his disciples as do the other three Gospel writers. He does record Jesusโ act of washing his disciplesโ feet that served as a โwarmupโ for Calvary: the ultimate act of service and sacrifice for lost humanity. John 13, which records the foot washing, begins by drawing attention, not to Jesusโ service but to his knowledge. First, Jesus knew โthat the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Fatherโ (John 13:1). Second, Jesus knew โthat the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to Godโ (v. 3). With such knowledge as this, one might expect a dramatic display of power and strength to follow. Of course, this was not the case; despite a level of knowledge that no one had ever possessed (and that no one has since possessed), Jesus performed an action that only the lowliest of servants would be expected to do.
Earlier in his Gospel, John declared that Jesus โknew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each personโ (John 2:24, 25). Jesus knew who was going to betray him (John 6:64; 13:11). When Jesus entered Gethsemane, he did so โknowing all that was going to happen to himโ (John 18:4). Jesus knew people, he knew about upcoming events, and he knew who would carry them out. He also knew what he himself had come to accomplish and when his work was finished (John 19:28). Dallas Willardโs assessment of Jesus is true: โHe is not just nice, he is brilliant. He is the smartest man who ever lived.โ
And yet, what we remember at this time of Communion is not how much Jesus knew but how much he loved; for as John also notes in chapter 13, โHaving loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the endโ (John 13:1). That is the love that drove Jesus to the cross. Think of it; although he knows each of us through and through, flaws and all, he still died for us.
Sometimes we hear the phrase, โKnowledge is power.โ Not so in the kingdom of heaven; in the kingdom not of this world (John 18:36), service is power. As Jesus told his disciples after washing their feet, โNow that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do themโ (John 13:17). So will we.
Doug Redford has served in the preaching ministry, as an editor of adult Sunday school curriculum, and as a Bible college professor. Now retired, he continues to write and speak as opportunities arise.ย
Author: Doug Redford
Doug Redford has served in the preaching ministry, as an editor of adult Sunday school curriculum, and as a Bible college professor. Now retired, he continues to write and speak as opportunities arise.
