John 13:

5 After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. 6 Then comes He to Simon Peter: and Peter says to Him, “LORD, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter.” 8 Peter says to Him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I wash you not, you have no part with Me.”

9 Simon Peter says to Him, “LORD, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus says to him, “He that is washed needs not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and you are clean, but not all.” 11 For He knew who should betray Him; therefore said He, “You are not all clean.”

                 What does this mean?

Answer:

I think two quotes from my library will say it all.

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At a feast it was the custom for a servant to wash the feet of the guests, and on this occasion preparation had been made for the service. The pitcher of water, the basin, and the towel were there, ready for the feet-washing. But no servant was present, and it was the disciples' part to perform it. 

But each of the disciples thought that he would not be a servant to his brothers. He was not willing to wash their feet. So, in silence they had taken their places at the table. 

Jesus waited awhile to see what they would do. Then He Himself rose from the table. He girded Himself with the towel, poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet. He had been grieved by their contention, but He did not reprove them by sharp words. He showed His love by acting as a servant to His own disciples. When He had finished, He said to them: 

“If I then, your LORD and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you.” John 13:14-15.

In this way Christ taught them that they ought to help one another. Instead of seeking the highest place for himself, each should be willing to serve his brothers and sisters. 

The Saviour came into the world to work for others. He lived to help and save those who are needy and sinful. He wants us to do as He did.

The disciples were now ashamed of their jealousy and selfishness. Their hearts were filled with love for their LORD and for one another. Now they could give heed to Christ's teaching. 

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The second quote:

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These words mean more than bodily cleanliness.

Christ is still speaking of the higher cleansing as illustrated by the lower. He who came from the [public] bath was clean, but the sandaled feet soon became dusty, and again needed to be washed. So Peter and his brothers had been washed in the great fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. Christ acknowledged them as His.

But temptation had led them into evil, and they still needed His cleansing grace. When Jesus girded Himself with a towel to wash the dust from their feet, He desired by that very act to wash the alienation, jealousy, and pride from their hearts. This was of far more consequence than the washing of their dusty feet. With the spirit they then had, not one of them was prepared for communion with Christ. Until brought into a state of humility and love, they were not prepared to partake of the paschal [passover] supper, or to share in the memorial service which Christ was about to institute. Their hearts must be cleansed. Pride and self-seeking create dissension and hatred, but all this Jesus washed away in washing their feet. A change of feeling was brought about.

Looking upon them, Jesus could say, “You are clean.” Now there was union of heart, love for one another. They had become humble and teachable. Except Judas, each was ready to concede to another the highest place. Now with subdued and grateful hearts they could receive Christ's words. 

Like Peter and his brothers, we too have been washed in the blood of Christ, yet often through contact with evil the heart's purity is soiled. We must come to Christ for His cleansing grace. Peter shrank from bringing his soiled feet in contact with the hands of his LORD and Master; but how often we bring our sinful, polluted hearts in contact with the heart of Christ! How grievous to Him is our evil temper, our vanity and pride!

Yet all our infirmity and defilement we must bring to Him. He alone can wash us clean. We are not prepared for communion with Him unless cleansed by His efficacy.

Jesus said to the disciples, “You are clean, but not all.” He had washed the feet of Judas, but the heart had not been yielded to Him. It was not purified. Judas had not submitted himself to Christ.

After Christ had washed the disciples' feet, and had taken His garments and sat down again, He said to them, “Know you what I have done to you? You call Me Master and LORD: and you say well; for so I am. If I then, your LORD and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say to you, The servant is not greater than his LORD; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.”

Christ would have His disciples understand that although He had washed their feet, this did not in the least detract from His dignity. “You call Me Master and LORD: and you say well; for so I am.” And being so infinitely superior, He imparted grace and significance to the service. No one was so exalted as Christ, and yet He stooped to the humblest duty.

That His people might not be misled by the selfishness which dwells in the natural heart, and which strengthens by self-serving, Christ Himself set the example of humility. He would not leave this great subject in man's charge. Of so much consequence did He regard it, that He Himself, One equal with God, acted as servant to His disciples. While they were contending for the highest place, He to whom every knee shall bow, He whom the angels of glory count it honour to serve, bowed down to wash the feet of those who called Him LORD. He washed the feet of His betrayer. 

In His life and lessons, Christ has given a perfect exemplification of the unselfish ministry which has its origin in God. God does not live for Himself. By creating the world, and by upholding all things, He is constantly ministering for others. “He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45. This ideal of ministry God has committed to His Son. Jesus was given to stand at the head of humanity, that by His example He might teach what it means to minister. His whole life was under a law of service. He served all, ministered to all. Thus He lived the law of God, and by His example showed how we are to obey it.

Again and again Jesus had tried to establish this principle among His disciples. When James and John made their request for pre-eminence, He had said, "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister." Matthew 20:26. In My kingdom the principle of preference and supremacy has no place.

The only greatness is the greatness of humility.

The only distinction is found in devotion to the service of others. 

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Christ gave His disciples to understand that the washing of their feet did not cleanse away their sin, but that the cleansing of their heart was tested in this humble service.

If the heart was cleansed, this act was all that was essential to reveal the fact.

He had washed the feet of Judas; but He said, "You are not all clean" because Judas brought a traitor's heart to this scene.  Christ revealed to all that He knew him to be the betrayer of his LORD, and that the washing of his feet was not an ordinance to cleanse his soul from its moral defilement.

Conclusion:

Washing the feet of His disciples was one way in which Jesus tried to impress upon His church that we should be ministers to others.

 oooOooo

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Genesis 3:17-19

And to Adam He said, “Because you have hearkened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and to dust shall you return.” 

 Just what is meant by the “curse”?