April 8, 2018
Morning Service

Last week we sprang forward and celebrated the foundation our faith stands upon with the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  The war against sin and death has been won, though the battle still rages on we know in the end we win because Jesus arose from the grave.  John goes into great detail of the last week of Jesus’ life here on earth.  We just finished chapter 12 where we saw the Triumphal Entry and it is chapter 19 before the crucifixion occurs.  We have seen some amazing things in this gospel John has written to us.  We have seen the lame walk, the blind see, the hungry fed, the dead raised and even heard teaching that show us the heart of God revealing to us how much He really loves us.  Today we will again add another amazing thing about the Savior to our list.

John 13:1  And before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come when He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own in the world, He loved them to the end.

·        Jesus is fully aware of what the future holds for Him.  He knows His hour has finally arrived and time is short with His beloved disciples.  The disciples still have not fully grasped what was about to happen.  They could have been thinking, like the Jewish people, that Jesus had come to set up Himself as King and rule the world.  Jesus in His wisdom knew they needed to be shown otherwise.

 

John 13:2-5  And when supper had ended, the Devil now having put into the heart of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon to betray Him,  (3)  Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,  (4)  He rose up from supper and laid aside His garments. And He took a towel and girded Himself.  (5)  After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

·        Here we are shown a couple of different things.  First we see that the betrayal of Jesus was not Judas’ original idea, but the devil had placed it in his faithless heart.  He did not “make” Judas do anything only suggested the possibility; he had to choose to follow through with it.

·        Secondly, we see another amazingly humble act that Jesus does for His disciples.  During these times as one traveled the dusty roads their feet would get very dirty.  Washing the feet of a guest was a common courtesy provided by the host, but was always done by the lowest servant and never by the head of the home.  As part of “transforming” the disciples’ ways, Jesus lowered Himself to the role of a servant breaching all social customs and humbly served them by washing their feet.  Jesus often chose to lead those who followed Him by example rather than simply by words.  He demonstrated to them that a humble leader looks very much like a servant.  Some of the disciples allowed Him to wash their feet, but Peter was quick to question Jesus’ actions.

 

John 13:6-7 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”  (7)  Jesus answered and said to him, “You do not know what I do now, but you shall know after this.”

·        Peter saw the irony in this act; knowing that he should be the one washing the Lord’s feet.  Jesus assured him that he would understand this act later, but now only had to allow this act by faith.

John 13:8-11 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”  (9)  Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and head.”  (10)  Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed has no need except to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all.”  (11)  For He knew who would betray Him. Therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

·        Peter rebukes the Lord and is quickly rebuked himself.  He needed to be shown what true humility looks like and we know this is only the beginning of his lessons.  As Jesus explains that this cleansing must take place to have fellowship with Him; He presents to us a principle that we all need a time of cleansing (repentance) to remain in true and close fellowship with our Lord. (I John 1:9)

·        Peter then, as always, goes to the other extreme and asks Jesus to wash his hands and head as well.  Jesus again lays out a principle for us that our one cleansing bath (baptism) is needed only once and after that only times of repentance are needed. (Eph. 4:5)

·        As Jesus washed Judas’ feet He knew that he would soon turn his back on Him and betray Him, but still yet He washed them.  He loved Judas despite the choices he was about to make.  Jesus loves the sinner, but hates the sin.  Jesus now explains what He has just done.  Try to place yourself there listening to Jesus’ words.

 

John 13:12-20  So after He had washed their feet and had taken His garments and had reclined again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?  (13)  You call Me the Teacher, and Lord, and you say well, for I AM.  (14)  If then I, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  (15)  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.  (16)  Truly, truly, I say to you, A servant is not greater than his master, neither is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.  (17)  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.  (18)  I do not speak of you all; I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me."  (19)  From now I tell you before it comes, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.  (20)  Truly, truly, I say to you, He who receives whomever I send receives Me. And he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

·        As we follow Christ, we simply have to look at His life as the example we are to imitate.  He being not only their leader, but their Lord and Savior, humbled Himself to serve them creating the example for them to follow with each other.  Many fellowships have foot washing services to imitate this act, which can be very impactful.  However, the idea was not this single act but He emphasized a life of servitude through it.  Jesus actually went much farther with His giving as He would shortly give His life for all those who would call Him Lord.  The disciples as well would also live their entire lives serving Christ and others even giving their own lives for the faith.

·        We are in that room with Jesus and He is also asking us to do the same; serve one another.  How are you doing with that?  Along our journey with Christ an attitude of servitude develops into a second nature.  We are called to serve and we are blessed because of it.  It is highly rewarding, but that does not make it easy or always convenient. 

·        Serving others is an investment we place in them; we show them that they have value to us by serving them.  Christ valued us enough to give His all for us.  Let’s individually and as a unified body place service to others as a priority to follow the example our Lord has given us.

 

Heavenly Father thank You for the opportunities You give us to serve You and also one another.  Please grant to us an attitude of servitude that we may follow Your example.