John 13:1-17
Today’s Passage: John 13:1-17
This is a famous passage of Jesus. It starts His final discourse before His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus knew what was coming (v.1-3). He was giving final instruction through word and action to His disciples. John 13-17 is his “farewell message” - so we better pay attention.
It starts with a story of Jesus serving His disciples by washing their feet. This is a beautiful story of servanthood from our Lord Jesus Christ. But it is not just a story of servanthood... It is a critical picture of (1) who Jesus is, (2) what He has accomplished, and (3) who we are called to be.
1) Who is Jesus? Humble Servant. (v.1-5)
Jesus exhibits His humility here. He is gentle and lowly. He exemplifies Matthew 5 and being “poor in spirit”. But we must not make the mistake of forgetting He is still Lord. He is in charge. He knew what He was doing. He knew what was coming. He is showing us something here. He is showing us how we are to treat others. He is showing us what He is going to do on the cross... serve the world.
Mark 10:45 teaches us this too... “45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2) What did Jesus accomplish? Holiness. (v.6-11)
This was the lowliest, dirtiest servant job that existed. Yet, Jesus did it. He did not consider Himself above it. He washed the disciples' feet, but when He got to Peter, Peter said no! And this is a critical verse... verse 8b-9... “Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus washing the disciples feet was a critical picture of what Jesus would accomplish on the cross... in verse 7 Jesus says ““What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
On the cross, Jesus accomplished our holiness. We have to be washed by Him. He is the only way. We cannot clean ourselves up - though we try. We cannot be good enough - though we try. We have to come to Jesus and go through Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21... “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
3) What are we called to be? Joyful servants. (v12-17)
Have you noticed - sometimes it is much easier to be served than to serve. It can be easier to receive grace than to give grace. But this is NOT how we are to live as followers of Jesus. We are to be JOYFUL SERVANTS of (1) God and (2) others.
Look at what Jesus said in verse 14-15... “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you”
We are to follow Jesus’ example. We are to serve others. By serving others we show them how much they are loved by God.
Don’t forget Matthew 22:37-39... “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Some questions for us to ask:
This is a famous passage of Jesus. It starts His final discourse before His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus knew what was coming (v.1-3). He was giving final instruction through word and action to His disciples. John 13-17 is his “farewell message” - so we better pay attention.
It starts with a story of Jesus serving His disciples by washing their feet. This is a beautiful story of servanthood from our Lord Jesus Christ. But it is not just a story of servanthood... It is a critical picture of (1) who Jesus is, (2) what He has accomplished, and (3) who we are called to be.
1) Who is Jesus? Humble Servant. (v.1-5)
Jesus exhibits His humility here. He is gentle and lowly. He exemplifies Matthew 5 and being “poor in spirit”. But we must not make the mistake of forgetting He is still Lord. He is in charge. He knew what He was doing. He knew what was coming. He is showing us something here. He is showing us how we are to treat others. He is showing us what He is going to do on the cross... serve the world.
Mark 10:45 teaches us this too... “45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2) What did Jesus accomplish? Holiness. (v.6-11)
This was the lowliest, dirtiest servant job that existed. Yet, Jesus did it. He did not consider Himself above it. He washed the disciples' feet, but when He got to Peter, Peter said no! And this is a critical verse... verse 8b-9... “Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
Jesus washing the disciples feet was a critical picture of what Jesus would accomplish on the cross... in verse 7 Jesus says ““What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
On the cross, Jesus accomplished our holiness. We have to be washed by Him. He is the only way. We cannot clean ourselves up - though we try. We cannot be good enough - though we try. We have to come to Jesus and go through Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21... “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
3) What are we called to be? Joyful servants. (v12-17)
Have you noticed - sometimes it is much easier to be served than to serve. It can be easier to receive grace than to give grace. But this is NOT how we are to live as followers of Jesus. We are to be JOYFUL SERVANTS of (1) God and (2) others.
Look at what Jesus said in verse 14-15... “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you”
We are to follow Jesus’ example. We are to serve others. By serving others we show them how much they are loved by God.
Don’t forget Matthew 22:37-39... “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Some questions for us to ask:
● How can I clothe myself in humility this week?
● Am I finding my holiness in Jesus or in me?
● How can I serve others joyfully this week because of the gospel?
Written By: Nick Parsons
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