- Home
- Speakers
- John Daniel Jones
- Too Proud To Wash Another's Feet?
John Daniel Jones
John Daniel Jones (1865–1942) was a Welsh preacher, pastor, and author whose ministry within the Congregational Church earned him recognition as one of Britain’s most influential Nonconformist leaders of the early 20th century. Born in Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales, to Joseph David Jones, a schoolmaster and lay preacher, he grew up steeped in Welsh Nonconformist culture, excelling academically at Bala Independent College and Owens College, Manchester, before training for ministry at Lancashire Independent College and earning an MA from the University of St Andrews. Ordained in 1889, he began his career at Newland Church in Lincoln, but his defining work came in 1898 when he succeeded Joseph Parker at Richmond Hill Congregational Church in Bournemouth, England, where he served for 39 years. Married to Annie Davies in 1892, with whom he had two daughters, he blended family life with a rigorous pastoral calling. Jones’s ministry at Bournemouth transformed Richmond Hill into a hub of evangelical vitality, drawing thousands with his eloquent, practical sermons—often likened to Charles Spurgeon’s in power—delivered without notes in a conversational style. Known as “J.D. Jones,” he chaired the Congregational Union of England and Wales in 1909–1910 and 1925–1926, advocating unity and missions, and served as president of the National Free Church Council in 1916–1917. A prolific author, his works like The Gospel According to St. Mark and The Model Prayer reflected his expository depth, while his leadership during World War I, including hospital visits and war relief efforts, showcased his pastoral heart. Retiring in 1937 due to health issues, he died in 1942, leaving a legacy as a “prince of preachers” whose Welsh fervor and English outreach bridged cultures and inspired generations.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
In this sermon by John Daniel Jones, he reflects on the powerful lesson Jesus taught His disciples through the act of washing their feet. He highlights how the disciples' pride and desire for greatness hindered them from humbly serving one another, as they were too focused on their own status and position. The preacher emphasizes the importance of humility, servanthood, and putting others before ourselves, just as Jesus did when He washed His disciples' feet.
Scriptures
Too Proud to Wash Another's Feet?
"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14). The pitchers and the basin and the towel were all there, ready for use, but no one pretended to see them. They took their place at the table, but no one gave any sign of intending to play the part of servant that night. And why was that? Because on the way to the Upper Room they had been contending which of them was greatest. It was not the first time they had quarrelled about their places in Christ's Kingdom. James and John, you remember, had tried to steal a march upon the rest of the disciples by getting their mother Salome to ask Jesus to promise beforehand that the two highest thrones should be given to them. On this particular evening, I should judge, the contention had been particularly keen and bitter, and so they came into the room, as Dr. Dods says, hot and angry and full of resentment, like so many sulky schoolboys. And no one would condescend to discharge this humble but grateful duty of feet-washing. John would not wash the feet of Peter; Peter would not wash the feet of Simon the Canaanite; Simon would not wash the feet of Thomas. For to wash the feet of the rest was to declare oneself the servant of all, and that was precisely what each was resolved he would not do. They stood on their dignity--a poor sort of thing to stand upon. There they sat, looking at the table, looking at the ceiling, arranging their dress, each resolved he would not confess himself a whit inferior to the others by performing the slave's office of washing their feet.
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
John Daniel Jones (1865–1942) was a Welsh preacher, pastor, and author whose ministry within the Congregational Church earned him recognition as one of Britain’s most influential Nonconformist leaders of the early 20th century. Born in Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales, to Joseph David Jones, a schoolmaster and lay preacher, he grew up steeped in Welsh Nonconformist culture, excelling academically at Bala Independent College and Owens College, Manchester, before training for ministry at Lancashire Independent College and earning an MA from the University of St Andrews. Ordained in 1889, he began his career at Newland Church in Lincoln, but his defining work came in 1898 when he succeeded Joseph Parker at Richmond Hill Congregational Church in Bournemouth, England, where he served for 39 years. Married to Annie Davies in 1892, with whom he had two daughters, he blended family life with a rigorous pastoral calling. Jones’s ministry at Bournemouth transformed Richmond Hill into a hub of evangelical vitality, drawing thousands with his eloquent, practical sermons—often likened to Charles Spurgeon’s in power—delivered without notes in a conversational style. Known as “J.D. Jones,” he chaired the Congregational Union of England and Wales in 1909–1910 and 1925–1926, advocating unity and missions, and served as president of the National Free Church Council in 1916–1917. A prolific author, his works like The Gospel According to St. Mark and The Model Prayer reflected his expository depth, while his leadership during World War I, including hospital visits and war relief efforts, showcased his pastoral heart. Retiring in 1937 due to health issues, he died in 1942, leaving a legacy as a “prince of preachers” whose Welsh fervor and English outreach bridged cultures and inspired generations.