John 12:37-13:17
Good morning, we will pick up today at the end of chapter 12 in the book of John. Two weeks ago, we heard about Jesus’ return to Bethany. He had been in hiding because the Jews were plotting to kill him after He had raised Lazarus from the dead. Six days before Passover, there was a dinner given in Jesus’ honor. At this dinner, Mary comes and anoints Jesus’ feet with a pint of purest perfume. Everyone is shocked and even a bit embarrassed at this intimate display of love and some are indignant at this perceived “waste” of money. Jesus rejects their complaint saying, “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” Carl pointed out that the strength of this perfume absorbed into Jesus’ skin would have lingered for days even until the crucifixion.
Good morning, we will pick up today at the end of chapter 12 in the book of John. Two weeks ago, we heard about Jesus’ return to Bethany. He had been in hiding because the Jews were plotting to kill him after He had raised Lazarus from the dead. Six days before Passover, there was a dinner given in Jesus’ honor. At this dinner, Mary comes and anoints Jesus’ feet with a pint of purest perfume. Everyone is shocked and even a bit embarrassed at this intimate display of love and some are indignant at this perceived “waste” of money. Jesus rejects their complaint saying, “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” Carl pointed out that the strength of this perfume absorbed into Jesus’ skin would have lingered for days even until the crucifixion.
And things continue to accelerate toward that pinnacle event. Last week, we heard about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus arrives riding on a donkey as the people wave palm branches and lay them down before Him. The crowds call out, “Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel!” In the midst of this celebration, Jesus replies to the crowd, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
Do you ever watch political speeches, perhaps, the State of the Union address? Sometimes there’s so much clapping, you wonder if they will ever get through the speech. The crowds are likely shouting out “Hurrahs!” and “Hosannas!” at the top of their lungs. They are ready to crown a king. But perhaps the crowds are silenced or at least begin muttering among themselves as Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.” And they are surely silenced as he goes on to talk about how a man who loves his own life will lose it, but the one who loses his life will keep it.
The crowd is confused that Jesus whom they are ready to crown king, the chosen one of God, will die or would die or even could die. How can this be? Jesus answers that while he is still with them they must put their trust in Him. In this way, they will become “sons of light.” The people are saying, “We don’t get it, we don’t understand.” Jesus is saying, “I will lead you through to understanding. Trust in me.”
Do you remember Jesus’ encounter with Jairus the synagogue ruler? Jairus came seeking healing for his daughter, but while he was asking Jesus for help, someone comes from his household and says that his daughter is already dead. There is no longer a need to bother Jesus about it. Instead, Jesus says to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”
Do you remember Jesus’ encounter with Jairus the synagogue ruler? Jairus came seeking healing for his daughter, but while he was asking Jesus for help, someone comes from his household and says that his daughter is already dead. There is no longer a need to bother Jesus about it. Instead, Jesus says to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”
The crowd cannot understand what must happen or why. Jesus has told them already that he must die. Now for those who will, they must believe. Come whatever may, trust in the light, the light of the world, Jesus.
Let’s take a moment and pray as we get into today’s passage,
Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see what you want to show us today. We want to put our trust in the light while we have it. We do not want to stumble around in the darkness. Lead us into truth. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
So, let’s pick up with John 12:37,
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. John 12:37
The miraculous signs are both the miracles like raising Lazarus from the dead and the audible voice of God as well as the fulfillment of prophecy like the specific date of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem to claim the kingship and the manner in which he arrived, riding on a donkey. All these things confirmed the things Jesus said about himself. And yet, though some believed, many would not.
his was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Let’s take a moment and pray as we get into today’s passage,
Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see what you want to show us today. We want to put our trust in the light while we have it. We do not want to stumble around in the darkness. Lead us into truth. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
So, let’s pick up with John 12:37,
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. John 12:37
The miraculous signs are both the miracles like raising Lazarus from the dead and the audible voice of God as well as the fulfillment of prophecy like the specific date of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem to claim the kingship and the manner in which he arrived, riding on a donkey. All these things confirmed the things Jesus said about himself. And yet, though some believed, many would not.
his was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal them.”
Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. John 12:38-41
This is one of those ideas that is uncomfortable for us. Sometimes it strikes us that God is being unfair. Hey God, you’re stacking the deck if You’re blinding eyes and hardening hearts. We can think that God is doing something officious or wrong. But let’s be careful here not to blaspheme God. Yes, I said blaspheme. What is blasphemy? The first definition in the dictionary was “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.”
I want to drop a simple explanation of God’s character in two parts: 1) God is love. (I John 4:8, 16) and 2) God is perfect; He always does what is right (“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Deuteronomy 32:4) and in cases where God’s actions or what he allows makes Him seem wrong to us, it is our limitations that render the situation confusing, not God’s failure or error (Isaiah 40:28, 55:8-9, I Samuel 15:29)
What is more insulting or shows contempt more than telling perfect love and perfect understanding, “I don’t think you really love people.” or “I think you’re contradicting yourself.” or “I think you’re a liar.” or “I think you’re wrong.”? I doubt that you entertain those thoughts exactly, but I want to warn you about allowing those kinds of thoughts to be planted or kept even as seeds in your mind. This is exactly the kind of thing II Corinthians 10:5 is talking about. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Take those thoughts captive and show them to the door.
At the same time, I don’t want to leave the impression that God doesn’t love us in the midst of our doubt or fears. What I want us to realize is that when we think God is not doing what we think is loving or right, we need to come to Him humbly and ask for wisdom (James 1:5). Perhaps there is something we need to do or say. Or perhaps we must endure a situation patiently. Whatever it might be, He can and will work for the good of those who belong to Him, who believe in Him. (Romans 8:28) So guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23), and do not let distrust of God be planted in your mind or in your heart.
John includes two different passages from Isaiah. The first line comes from Isaiah 53:1. If you back up into the end of chapter 52, we see that God is talking specifically about Jesus and His crucifixion. How He will be raised up, how His appearance will be disfigured, and through that God will “sprinkle many nations.” And among those nations, “What they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.”
The ones to whom the message had been revealed, the Jews, did not believe, and because of their disbelief Jesus was ultimately “lifted up” on the cross. Through that “lifting up” the ones that did not get the message first, the Gentiles or the nations, saw and understood even though they had not seen or been told in advance.
The second passage comes from Isaiah 6, the part about blinding eyes and hardening hearts. Immediately following that verse, Isaiah asked, “For how long, O Lord?” God’s reply begins with “until.” There is a time of hardening, but it has a purpose. Neither is it a permanent hardening. The hardening in this case was enough to allow Jesus to be crucified. We should be very thankful that God hardened hearts because without that Jesus would not have been crucified and we would not have forgiveness of our sins.
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. John 12:42-43
Many did believe both among the leaders and among the crowds, but they did not do so publicly. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie. They wanted the praise of men before the praise of God.
Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:44-46
These last seven verses in chapter 12 conclude Jesus’ public ministry as recorded by John. He will not speak to the crowds again. We don’t get a frame of reference as to when or where these words were spoken. Since He cries out, we can see there is special emphasis as He is talking to many people.
It is a summary of things Jesus has said before. The idea of Jesus as “One sent by God” recurs more than thirty times in the book of John, twenty times before this verse. He has said before too that He is the light of the world. The idea of Jesus as light recurs at least 15 times in the book of John.
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.” John 12:47-48
In a way, it is easy for us to say that Jesus could not judge the world when he came first. If he had, we would all have been found guilty. Then, that would have been the end of all mankind.
I think this is a reminder for us, too. We live in a world that is full of problems and sin. We must guard our own hearts and flee from temptation. In that process though, it can be easy to slip into a mode of judgment. We can look at others who make mistakes, who fall short, and say, “Boy, I’m glad that’s not me.” or worse, “I can’t believe how that person is struggling.” Jesus did not come to judge, but to save. Likewise, we should not judge (“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1).
Romans 5:19 says this, “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” This verse is talking about Adam and Jesus. Adam disobeyed, so all men and women became sinners. Jesus obeyed, so we have the possibility to be made righteous before God. I heard this verse a few years ago, and it struck me a little differently. We all have choices to make. When we choose poorly and sin, there is this chance for a sin chain reaction. Likewise, we have the possibility to be peacemakers. When choose obedience and love, we have the chance to break the cycle. We become the one man or the one woman through whom the many can be made righteous.
The third verse of Joy to the World says, “He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.” You and I are the hands and feet of the blessing. We come to take the blessing as far as the curse is found. We are not here to judge; we are here to save, to bring salvation. And we should keep in mind there is a judgment coming for those who reject Jesus.
“For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 12:49-50
Jesus is not here to get glory for Himself. He is here to do the Father’s will. We will come to it in three weeks, but as Jesus abides in the Father, so we should abide, live in, stay connected to Jesus.
I don’t remember picking up on it before, but I am interested in Jesus’ words that he not only received “what to say” from the Father but also “how to say it.” I think that will become a prayer for me. I will pray that God will show me not only what to say but how to speak.
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.” John 12:47-48
In a way, it is easy for us to say that Jesus could not judge the world when he came first. If he had, we would all have been found guilty. Then, that would have been the end of all mankind.
I think this is a reminder for us, too. We live in a world that is full of problems and sin. We must guard our own hearts and flee from temptation. In that process though, it can be easy to slip into a mode of judgment. We can look at others who make mistakes, who fall short, and say, “Boy, I’m glad that’s not me.” or worse, “I can’t believe how that person is struggling.” Jesus did not come to judge, but to save. Likewise, we should not judge (“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1).
Romans 5:19 says this, “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” This verse is talking about Adam and Jesus. Adam disobeyed, so all men and women became sinners. Jesus obeyed, so we have the possibility to be made righteous before God. I heard this verse a few years ago, and it struck me a little differently. We all have choices to make. When we choose poorly and sin, there is this chance for a sin chain reaction. Likewise, we have the possibility to be peacemakers. When choose obedience and love, we have the chance to break the cycle. We become the one man or the one woman through whom the many can be made righteous.
The third verse of Joy to the World says, “He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found.” You and I are the hands and feet of the blessing. We come to take the blessing as far as the curse is found. We are not here to judge; we are here to save, to bring salvation. And we should keep in mind there is a judgment coming for those who reject Jesus.
“For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 12:49-50
Jesus is not here to get glory for Himself. He is here to do the Father’s will. We will come to it in three weeks, but as Jesus abides in the Father, so we should abide, live in, stay connected to Jesus.
I don’t remember picking up on it before, but I am interested in Jesus’ words that he not only received “what to say” from the Father but also “how to say it.” I think that will become a prayer for me. I will pray that God will show me not only what to say but how to speak.
May we all follow His commands to eternal life.
Like I mentioned, this concludes Jesus’ public ministry in the book of John. We transition now to the Last Supper and Jesus’ last hours with His disciples before the crucifixion.
Like I mentioned, this concludes Jesus’ public ministry in the book of John. We transition now to the Last Supper and Jesus’ last hours with His disciples before the crucifixion.
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. John 13:1
We have now come to the night of the Passover meal. John has recorded in deep detail (five chapters worth, chapters 13 through 17) what Jesus had to say to the disciples on this last night before He would go to the cross. Jesus knows what is coming. The event of his death was foretold and Jesus himself has predicted it on multiple occasions.
Our title for today’s message comes out of this verse: “the full extent of his love.” How does Jesus capture the full extent of his love in a way that we can understand it?
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:2-5
Let’s take the middle portion first. The stage is set. Judas will betray Jesus. This phrasing leaves open to me that there was a chance for Judas not to betray Jesus. This is a tough concept to grasp. God knows what will happen because well, He’s God. However, He gives us the right to choose. And yet, He is greater than time itself. Therefore, God can see the outcome as well as the time before the decision is made. He knows the indecision and the final commitment to action, following the prompting from the devil.
Also, the Father puts all things under Jesus’ power. There is some kind of change. Jesus has said up until now that He depended upon the Father for everything. He did nothing apart from the Father. The Father puts all things under Jesus. I take this to mean that Jesus has authority and power to go to the cross or not to go. The Father is not forcing Jesus to do this. Jesus has the power to pull out. He’s not going to give up or pull out or quit, but it seems the option is open to Him.
Now, let’s look at the actions of Jesus. The meal is being served. Obviously, everyone is sitting there with dirty feet. Walking around on dirty streets and pathways wearing sandals, your feet got dusty, dirty, and depending on the weather maybe even downright disgusting. Removing sandals and washing feet was the job of the lowliest servant. Remember how John the Baptist said about Jesus that “He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (John 1:27) John was saying that he was below the lowest slave in comparison to Jesus. I am not even worthy to touch His dirty, sweaty, smelly sandals.
I imagine different possible reactions to this situation among the disciples. Some may not have been too concerned about dirty feet. After all, Jesus had rebuked the Pharisees when they complained about the disciples plucking heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath. Then, there was the whole thing about the washing of hands. Jesus said that was okay. “Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’ ” (Mark 7:15) Dirty feet, no big deal, right?
Then, I imagine some of the other disciples thinking. Man, somebody ought to wash these feet. It’s not right to sit at the table and eat dinner with dirty feet. Matthew had been a tax collector and was probably accustomed to a more affluent way of life. James and John had kind of an overbearing mother. Maybe they were thinking, “Man, if Mom could see us right now, she’d have our hides for sitting at the table with dirty feet.”
Whatever the case, no one had come to the point of deciding, “Hey, I’ll do what is right and needed. I’ll wash these feet.” No one that is except, Jesus.
Not only does Jesus do the job. He takes on the garment appropriate for the lowliest servant. He is clothed only in a towel. I liked the picture in the background because it shows the reaction of the disciples. They are shocked and somewhat in disbelief. This is scandalous. He is their Lord, and yet he is humbling himself to the lowest position.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” John 13:6-10
It seems that Jesus has washed some of the disciples’ feet. Peter apparently is the first to object. He seems to have an attitude of humility mixed with pride. On the one hand, he does not want Jesus to have to do this menial service to him. On the other, he’s rebuking Jesus, “You shall never wash my feet.” Peter had said “never” to Jesus once before, and had been rebuked sharply.
On this night, Jesus answers only that Peter must submit to being served by Christ. The pendulum then swings the other way for Peter. He loves Jesus so much that he wants to be washed head, hands and feet. No, Jesus says, only his feet need to be washed.
A couple of thoughts came to mind as I was preparing the message. One is we must have the willingness to submit to being washed. I think that is one of the hardest things. I think many of us don’t want to submit to being served. I know I’m like that. I’m like a little kid, “No, I can do it myself.” I want to assert my independence. I read an interview with Joni Eareckson Tada the other day. She was talking about how hard it was to be a quadriplegic and having people washing her, dressing her, caring for her most basic needs. She has been a quadriplegic for 45 years, and yet, she struggles with her dependence on others. In reality, we all are dependent. We can’t really do this thing called life apart from Him. Our weaknesses and our pride keep us from meeting our most basic needs.
So there is a double submitting here. First, Jesus submits himself to the disciples to wash their feet. To meet a basic need. The disciples must then submit to Jesus and allow their feet to be washed, their need to be met. I think of Ephesians 5:21, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” When someone tries to serve you, I encourage you to submit to them and allow them to serve you. It will bless both you and them.
The other thought that I had was regarding Jesus words differentiating a bath from washing feet. I think we can say that a bath is similar to being baptized. Once you are baptized, you don’t need to be baptized again. Once you are washed by the water and the blood of Jesus, you’re clean forever. However, our feet get dirty as we walk around in this world. That dirt needs to be cleaned off from time to time. And Jesus sets the example that the leader is the one doing that washing.
I don’t know what kind of dirt you get on you by going back and forth through your many responsibilities each day. But, whoever is a spiritual leader or pilgrim together with you for you whether it be a pastor, husband (Ephesians 5:26), wife, a parent, a mentor, a sibling or a friend. I encourage you to submit to the washing of one another in the Word. That will get the muck and dirt off from whatever you may run up against.
For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. John 13:11
Jesus knew that Judas would betray him, and he washed his feet anyway. Jesus died for everyone. His sacrifice is enough to save the most wretched sinner ever. However, we only become clean when we let Him make us clean. You can even sit at the table of the Last Supper and be unsaved. It is a choice that we each must make to choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is not just a transaction of salvation where you can say, “I accepted you as my Savior, Jesus, way back when. I put my sins on the counter in exchange for an asbestos-lined soul.” It’s not like that. Jesus must be our Lord and Savior. We need to come to him each day and connect with Him, talk to Him, hear from Him, lay down our lives for Him, take up our cross for Him, follow Him.
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.
We have now come to the night of the Passover meal. John has recorded in deep detail (five chapters worth, chapters 13 through 17) what Jesus had to say to the disciples on this last night before He would go to the cross. Jesus knows what is coming. The event of his death was foretold and Jesus himself has predicted it on multiple occasions.
Our title for today’s message comes out of this verse: “the full extent of his love.” How does Jesus capture the full extent of his love in a way that we can understand it?
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:2-5
Let’s take the middle portion first. The stage is set. Judas will betray Jesus. This phrasing leaves open to me that there was a chance for Judas not to betray Jesus. This is a tough concept to grasp. God knows what will happen because well, He’s God. However, He gives us the right to choose. And yet, He is greater than time itself. Therefore, God can see the outcome as well as the time before the decision is made. He knows the indecision and the final commitment to action, following the prompting from the devil.
Also, the Father puts all things under Jesus’ power. There is some kind of change. Jesus has said up until now that He depended upon the Father for everything. He did nothing apart from the Father. The Father puts all things under Jesus. I take this to mean that Jesus has authority and power to go to the cross or not to go. The Father is not forcing Jesus to do this. Jesus has the power to pull out. He’s not going to give up or pull out or quit, but it seems the option is open to Him.
Now, let’s look at the actions of Jesus. The meal is being served. Obviously, everyone is sitting there with dirty feet. Walking around on dirty streets and pathways wearing sandals, your feet got dusty, dirty, and depending on the weather maybe even downright disgusting. Removing sandals and washing feet was the job of the lowliest servant. Remember how John the Baptist said about Jesus that “He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (John 1:27) John was saying that he was below the lowest slave in comparison to Jesus. I am not even worthy to touch His dirty, sweaty, smelly sandals.
I imagine different possible reactions to this situation among the disciples. Some may not have been too concerned about dirty feet. After all, Jesus had rebuked the Pharisees when they complained about the disciples plucking heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath. Then, there was the whole thing about the washing of hands. Jesus said that was okay. “Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’ ” (Mark 7:15) Dirty feet, no big deal, right?
Then, I imagine some of the other disciples thinking. Man, somebody ought to wash these feet. It’s not right to sit at the table and eat dinner with dirty feet. Matthew had been a tax collector and was probably accustomed to a more affluent way of life. James and John had kind of an overbearing mother. Maybe they were thinking, “Man, if Mom could see us right now, she’d have our hides for sitting at the table with dirty feet.”
Whatever the case, no one had come to the point of deciding, “Hey, I’ll do what is right and needed. I’ll wash these feet.” No one that is except, Jesus.
Not only does Jesus do the job. He takes on the garment appropriate for the lowliest servant. He is clothed only in a towel. I liked the picture in the background because it shows the reaction of the disciples. They are shocked and somewhat in disbelief. This is scandalous. He is their Lord, and yet he is humbling himself to the lowest position.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” John 13:6-10
It seems that Jesus has washed some of the disciples’ feet. Peter apparently is the first to object. He seems to have an attitude of humility mixed with pride. On the one hand, he does not want Jesus to have to do this menial service to him. On the other, he’s rebuking Jesus, “You shall never wash my feet.” Peter had said “never” to Jesus once before, and had been rebuked sharply.
On this night, Jesus answers only that Peter must submit to being served by Christ. The pendulum then swings the other way for Peter. He loves Jesus so much that he wants to be washed head, hands and feet. No, Jesus says, only his feet need to be washed.
A couple of thoughts came to mind as I was preparing the message. One is we must have the willingness to submit to being washed. I think that is one of the hardest things. I think many of us don’t want to submit to being served. I know I’m like that. I’m like a little kid, “No, I can do it myself.” I want to assert my independence. I read an interview with Joni Eareckson Tada the other day. She was talking about how hard it was to be a quadriplegic and having people washing her, dressing her, caring for her most basic needs. She has been a quadriplegic for 45 years, and yet, she struggles with her dependence on others. In reality, we all are dependent. We can’t really do this thing called life apart from Him. Our weaknesses and our pride keep us from meeting our most basic needs.
So there is a double submitting here. First, Jesus submits himself to the disciples to wash their feet. To meet a basic need. The disciples must then submit to Jesus and allow their feet to be washed, their need to be met. I think of Ephesians 5:21, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” When someone tries to serve you, I encourage you to submit to them and allow them to serve you. It will bless both you and them.
The other thought that I had was regarding Jesus words differentiating a bath from washing feet. I think we can say that a bath is similar to being baptized. Once you are baptized, you don’t need to be baptized again. Once you are washed by the water and the blood of Jesus, you’re clean forever. However, our feet get dirty as we walk around in this world. That dirt needs to be cleaned off from time to time. And Jesus sets the example that the leader is the one doing that washing.
I don’t know what kind of dirt you get on you by going back and forth through your many responsibilities each day. But, whoever is a spiritual leader or pilgrim together with you for you whether it be a pastor, husband (Ephesians 5:26), wife, a parent, a mentor, a sibling or a friend. I encourage you to submit to the washing of one another in the Word. That will get the muck and dirt off from whatever you may run up against.
For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. John 13:11
Jesus knew that Judas would betray him, and he washed his feet anyway. Jesus died for everyone. His sacrifice is enough to save the most wretched sinner ever. However, we only become clean when we let Him make us clean. You can even sit at the table of the Last Supper and be unsaved. It is a choice that we each must make to choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior. It is not just a transaction of salvation where you can say, “I accepted you as my Savior, Jesus, way back when. I put my sins on the counter in exchange for an asbestos-lined soul.” It’s not like that. Jesus must be our Lord and Savior. We need to come to him each day and connect with Him, talk to Him, hear from Him, lay down our lives for Him, take up our cross for Him, follow Him.
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.
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:12-15
For once, the disciples are speechless. Jesus has turned everything upside down again. He is Teacher and Lord, but he lowered himself to wash their feet. This is the example we have to follow. Let us serve one another in meeting physical needs. I think we’ve all done that in many ways. Making meals, helping folks move, cleaning up at others’ houses, and I’m sure more that you have done yourselves and more that can think of to do. Let us also gently and tenderly wash off the dirt and grime of each others’ sins and temptations, our trials and persecutions. In that way, we will be clean and a joy to be around rather than tracking footprints on one another and stinking up the place.
I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:16-17
There is no one greater than Jesus. His name is the Name above all Names. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. And yet, he showed the full extent of his love by this. He took off his outer garment, put on the garment of a slave, then washed the feet of each and every disciple.
It is truly amazing. There is no one in history like Jesus. Even Moses, who was the most humble man on Earth, lost his temper at the ever complaining Israelites. Taking on His full authority, Jesus’ very first act was not a demonstration of His power. On the contrary, it was a demonstration of His love and humility. In light of so great an example, how can we hold to our own selfish desires? What right have we to make demands when He who loved us so and even died for us washed the disciples feet?
Let us lay down our pride and even our fear to love one another in all humility.
If we needed more encouragement in this, He gives it here. If you love one another and wash one another’s feet, then you will be blessed.
Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us how to love. Thank you for coming here yourself to teach, to serve, and to die. We believe in you and want to walk always in Your light. Glorify Your Name we pray. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
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