John 13

John 13: Three Cool Greek Words

WASH (nipto)—EXAMPLE (hupodeigma) —BLESSED  (markarios)   13: 12-17

¹² 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.¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Other scriptures where these words appear.

Blind man told to “nipto” his eyes (ceremonially wash)

WASH (nipto)

Wash: John 9:  blind man was given sight when he washed his own eyes

⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Jesus told us to love each other but in John 13, he used washing each other’s feet as the “example”.  1 Timothy records that this was an important example of “good deeds”: Was this meant to be a means to an intimate “communion” with Christ?  A “min-baptism”?  Not baptism signifying our salvation but one strengthening our discipleship?  Helping us to remember his cleansing Spirit and word?  A place for intercessory prayer, confession, and prophetic words?

EXAMPLE (hupodeigma)

1 Timothy

9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

Blessed: (markarios)   NOT just a metaphor

Revelation 22

14“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.