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On New Year’s Day, I woke up much like any other day. It felt relatively ordinary.
As sunlight filtered through the windows of our bedroom, small voices called out my name-“daddy” “daddy” “daddy”. Small voices demanding food, drink, and Bluey. Having stayed up a little later than usual, I wasn’t exactly in the best mood. So, begrudgingly, I stumbled toward the fridge, searching for something even mildly satisfying to eat. But there was just Vegemite on toast. Great! Once the girls were set up, it was coffee time. So I fire up my parents’ high-quality pod coffee machine. Thrilling, right? Eventually, the day began to roll along at its own slow, unhurried pace.
Honestly, I didn’t feel that classic New Year’s buzz. You know the one? No upbeat energy pulsing through the house, no sweet soundtrack accompanying my morning routine. Just… ordinary. Plain, quiet, and mundane.
Deep down, I think I’d been hoping for something more-a spark, a shift, something extraordinary to kick off the year. But then it hit me: this year, most days are going to be… ordinary. Normal. Standard. Days of waking up, eating breakfast, cleaning up breakfast. Brushing my teeth, making the bed, driving, working, eating lunch. Spending time with the kids, having dinner, enjoying time with Bek, going to bed-then waking up and doing it all over again.
I don’t want to sound like a total buzzkill about 2025, but let’s face it-just like last year (and the years before that), it’s likely to be pretty ordinary. But you know, maybe that’s okay. Because even in these ordinary days, our God has everything we need to sustain us.
What will we need for these ordinary days?
We’ll need God’s fresh, new, day-by-day mercies.
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to hear about the ‘Fresh Mercies’ that we have in Christ. And God will be inviting each one of us to make resolutions rooted in Christ for the year ahead. Whether we face ordinary days, stressful days, joyful days, frustrating days, days we regret, days of immense pain and suffering, or days of success and fulfilment-whatever days are ahead-it’s our hope and prayer that God would bring us His mercy to sustain us moment by moment.
So, this morning, as we look at John 13:1-17, we’re going to begin by reflecting on the very heart of God’s mercy-His unfading love in Christ. And as we look at John 13:1-17, God’s going to call us to receive His love each and every day of the year ahead.
In verse 1, John sets the scene.
In this short introduction, we’re reminded that Jesus’ has a ‘to the end’ kind of love.
It is the beginning of the end. Jesus knows that his “hour” has come. It is time for Jesus to “leave this world and go to the Father” via his crucifixion (v1b). Whilst these weighty matters are still all before Him, John sets the stage for everything that Jesus is about to do by penning these astounding words:
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he [Jesus] loved them to the end.” (John 13:1)
Throughout whatever had gone before, John says that Jesus had “loved his own”. The Son’s entire ministry was a ministry of love toward his Father for the sake of sinners and sufferers. And yet through whatever was about to come, John also says that Jesus would “love them to the end”. The Son’s love for “his own” would endure through all manner of difficulties. Through betrayal, through arrest, through denial, through unjust trial, through mockery; through crucifixion, through the wrath of God. The Son’s love “for his own” would even endure death itself. His love was and is a “to the end” kind of love.
In his book, Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund so helpfully writes this:
“We love until we are betrayed… We love until we are forsaken… We love up to a limit. Jesus loves to the end.”.1
The Lord Jesus’ love was and is a “to the end” kind of love. A love that does not decay.2
But, how does the Lord Jesus demonstrate this love? How is His “to the end” kind of love actually displayed to his people?
In verses 2-12, John shows us. Jesus’ loves his disciples from his seat and back.
2.1. The Evening Meal (2-3)
While “the evening meal” was going on, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet (v2). Knowing, full well, that “the Father had put all things under his power” (v3a). Knowing, full well, that “He had come from God and was returning to God” (v3b). Knowing, full well, his own heavenly authority and origin, Jesus undertakes one of the most simple and common acts of service.3
2.2. The Foot Washing Starts (v4-5)
Jesus “gets up” and “rises” from the evening meal (v4a); then he “lays down” his outer garments (v4b); and “wraps a towel around his waist” (v4c). Then, Jesus “pours water into a basin” (v5a); and begins to “wash his disciple’s feet” (v5b); and then Jesus “drys them with the towel that was around his waist” (v5c). Knowing, full well, his own heavenly authority and origin, Jesus carries out this simple gesture of ancient hospitality.4 And yet for all but one, that’s all this appears to be-just a simple act of service.
2.3. Peter and Jesus (v6-11)
But as Jesus “comes to Simon Peter”, Peter “says to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”. “What are you doing Jesus?” Peter knows something of what Jesus knows. He knows something of Jesus’ heavenly authority and he knows something of Jesus’ heavenly origin. Peter knows, he knows enough to say, “No, you shall never-ever wash my feet” (v8a). Peter bluntly refuses Jesus’ act of love. The Heavenly Saviour washing my feet? Absurd! Not a chance! No way!
But, Jesus bluntly responds to Peter, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” (8b). Peter, if you don’t receive this foot washing, you have nothing to do with me. Peter, if you don’t receive this act of love, you have no part with me. To deny My love is to forfeit any part, any share, any place with Me. Do you really want that Peter? Well, no. Peter hilariously responds, “Then Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” (v9). If washing my feet gets me just a part with you, then wash my whole body!
2.4. The Foot Washing Ends (v12)
After this interaction with Peter and his disciples, Jesus’ act of service finally comes to an end. Once he “had finished washing their feet (v12a); Jesus “took up” his outer garments; and then he “returned” and “sat down” again (v12b). The foot washing ends in the reverse-order of the way it started.
This is an absolutely astonishing scene, isn’t it?
And what makes this moment so astounding is the One who does it.
You see, this isn’t simply a host showing kindness to his dinner guests. No-this is someone who is much, much more than that!
This is Jesus: the eternal Son of God stooping under the table to wash human-feet.5 This is the one who has “all things under his power” (v3a); and who has “come from God” and “was returning to God” (v3b). This is the one who was “in the form of God”, “taking the form of a slave” (cf. Philippians 2:6-7).6 This is the eternal Son-“begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by who all things were made”.7 This is the Heavenly-Man doing what is beneath most earthly men.8 With the weighty matters of his suffering and cross still before Him, Jesus the Son of God “loved his own who are in the world”… “to the end” by washing the dust off their feet.
Jesus demonstrates His love by washing his disciples’ feet.
But, as we witness this scene, don’t you just sense that there is something more going on? Don’t you just feel like there’s a deeper meaning to this story?
Well, throughout his gospel John enjoys telling stories about Jesus which have more than one perspective. Stories which have both an (1) earthly perspective and also (2) a heavenly perspective.9
In this story, we discover an enacted parable, a performance (if you will), of what God’s love is all about! The foot-washing hints at the good news of the gospel! Out of love, Jesus Christ “rose up” from his heavenly seat (v4a); to come to earth below to “lay aside” his own life upon a cross; in order to “make” his people his very own (v5). And then He “took up” and “put on” his life from the grave (v12a); and then He “sat down” at the Father’s right hand in heaven once again (v12b).
The foot-washing hints at the very core of God’s mercy and love: “the Word” becoming flesh (cf. John 1:14); the Good Shepherd coming and laying down his life and taking it back up again (cf. John 10:17-18).10 This foot washing is a foretaste of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the eternal Son of God.11 Jesus loves his disciples all the way from his heavenly seat and back.
So, how might this “fresh mercy” speak into the days ahead-the stressful days, the painful days, the ordinary days?
Well, this morning, God is assuring each one of us that we are loved with a “to the end” kind of love; and that the Saviour has loved us from His seat and back. So, perhaps this year, whether for the first time or the hundredth, we need to resolve to receive this spiritual reality by faith-day by day. To receive His love.
I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t take much for me to forget these truths. The slightest frustration, the smallest sin, a tiny doubt, or just the ordinariness of life can cause me to lose sight of God’s love in Christ.
And yet, the Scriptures are anything but silent on this. Again and again, we’re reminded of His unshakable love:
“To all in Rome who are loved by God… ” (Romans 1:7)
“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you… ” (1 Thessalonians 1:4)
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
“In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will… ” (Ephesians 1:4-5)
“Righteous Father… I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (John 17:25-26)
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
For some reason, it’s easy to forget who we are. But, whatever days are ahead-moment by moment-we are this: dearly loved by God in Christ Jesus. In the stressful days, the painful days, the ordinary days, we are beloved by God.
In her book Liturgy of the Ordinary, Tish Harrison Warren puts it beautifully:
“Before we begin the liturgies of our day-the cooking, the sitting in traffic, emailing, accomplishing, working, resting-we begin beloved… hidden in Christ, and beloved by the Father… marked by the love and new life of Jesus”.12
Before we begin our day (whatever day that will be), we begin beloved. So this year, let’s make a resolution rooted in Christ. Let’s resolve to receive God’s love. Let’s wake up each day and, before doing anything else, remind ourselves: I am beloved by God. For God’s love in Christ is a “to the end” kind of love. It doesn’t give up. It doesn’t let you down. It doesn’t run out. It’s not here one day and gone the next. As one person put it, Jesus will love His own “to the end of their lives, to the end of their sins, to the end of their temptations, to the end of their fears”.13
To the end. From his seat and back.
What will we need for the ordinary days ahead?
We’ll need God’s fresh, new, day-by-day mercies. Starting with the reality that we are loved by our triune God.
Endnotes
1 Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, 76-77.
2 The phrase “to the end” can be understood in a couple of ways. It could be understood as ‘temporal’-that Jesus loved his own to the very end of his life (to the point of death). This interpretation makes sense because of references to “the hour” (cf. John 13:1a, 13:3), and the use of “it is finished” at the cross (19:30). Jesus’ loved his own until he was taken from them. But “to the end” can also be understood in a ‘qualitative’ sense-the degree to which Jesus’ loved his own. That Jesus loved his own ‘completely’, ‘utterly’, or ‘to the limit’. Jesus loved his own to the greatest extent possible. In some sense, we don’t need to choose between these two options, do we? It’s really both, isn’t it? The Lord Jesus’ loved his own to the end of his life, and he also loved his own completely.
3 “In itself, the procedure was unremarkable. Foot washing by a host (if he was poor), or by the host’s slaves, was a gesture of hospitality. Slaves washed their masters’ feet after a journey, wives the feet of their husbands, disciples the feet of their teachers.25 If Jesus was in any sense the host of this “supper,” his action may not have been quite so extraordinary (despite Peter’s misgivings) as it is commonly represented. What was extraordinary, as we have seen, was the timing, and presumably the fact that Jesus had never done anything like this before.” – Michaels, 727.
4 J. Ramsey Michaels, The Gospel of John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich: William B. Eerdmans Pub, 2010), 727.
5 J. Ramsey Michaels, The Gospel of John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich: William B. Eerdmans Pub, 2010), 727.
6 John Christopher Thomas, Footwashing in John 13 and the Johannine Community, Second edition. (Cleveland, Tennessee: CPT Press, 2014), 70.
7 Nicene Creed
8 John Christopher Thomas, Footwashing in John 13 and the Johannine Community, Second edition. (Cleveland, Tennessee: CPT Press, 2014), 70.
9 R. Alan Culpepper, Anatomy of the Fourth Gospel : A Study in Literary Design (Philadelphia, Pa.: Fortress Press, 1987), 33.
10 J. Ramsey Michaels, The Gospel of John, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich: William B. Eerdmans Pub, 2010), 724-725.
11 Craig S Keener, The Gospel of John: A Commentary (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, 2010), 899-900.
12 Warren, Liturgy of the Ordinary, 12.
13 Bunyan, The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate, in Works, 1:201.
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