JOHN CHAPTER 13 - JESUS WASHES DISCIPLES FEET - NEW COMMANDMENT

Mon 6/6 - John Chapter 13 – Lesson 1

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet

John 13:1 (ESV) Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Jesus knew that His time had almost finally come. Being God, He knew what He was facing and that His method of death would be excruciating, both physically and spiritually. It would be humiliating to be crucified because the Old Testament said to be hung on a tree was to be cursed. Unlike the paintings of the Lord on the cross, people were crucified completely naked, another embarrassing humiliation. His humiliation, pain, and degradation was all worth it to Him for the sparing of those who would believe, those He loved, in order to save them from sin. Although their sin and ours would nail Him to the tree, He continued to love His disciples to the end.

John 13:2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,

God the Father sovereignly gave the devil freedom to influence Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. Judas chose to give in to that temptation of his own will.

John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.

Jesus was completely aware of who His Father was and where He had come from. He was equally aware that after the ordeal of the cross, He would arise victoriously from the dead and return to His Father’s side to be glorified. Knowing this, Jesus humbly took on the role of a servant by laying aside His outer garments and tying a towel around His waist. Jesus did not wield His power to conquer Rome and set up an earthly kingdom. Jesus’ strength was demonstrated in humility. Jesus laid aside His power as God to fulfill the requirements of the cross, but first He laid aside His dignity and right to have everyone bow down to Him as Lord in order to lower Himself to the floor to take on the role of a servant.

Philippians 2:6-7a (ESV) …who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant…

Jesus was preparing to perform a duty usually carried out by the lowliest servant of the household. He was being the portrait of a servant-leader.

John 13:5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

The disciples wore sandals and walked just about everywhere they went. Their feet would have been dusty, grimy, calloused, and stinky. Yet Jesus was methodically, carefully, tenderly washing their feet. He gave them a much needed foot bath. A host usually ordered a servant to provide this welcomed service to His guests. But Jesus, the host and their master, performed this courtesy Himself.  

John 13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

Peter questioned whether the Lord really intended to wash his feet. Jesus expressed that it might not make sense to Peter at that time, but later it would.

John 13:8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

Peter protested that he would never allow the Son of God to wash his feet. Cleansing went further than skin deep as far as Jesus was concerned. If He could not wash Peter’s feet, He could not include Peter as a part of His family; and Peter would not be with Him. He would be separated from Him forever. In like manner, if we are not cleansed by the blood of Jesus, if we do not trust Him for salvation, we cannot enter into the kingdom of God. The blood of Jesus’ sacrifice was the soap of His love.

John 13:9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

Now that Peter “gets it,” he wants a complete bath! He realized he was a sinner in need of a Savior’s cleansing power.

John 13:10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

The apostles were already clean because they believed Jesus to be the Son of God and trusted in Him. Jesus knew there was one among them who did not truly trust – Judas Iscariot, the betrayer. But Jesus still served Him and washed His feet.

Q – Jesus taught that those who wanted to be the top dog, had to be willing to be at the bottom. Those who wanted to lead, needed to serve. He demonstrated this type of leadership by washing the disciples’ feet. Think of the leaders you admire the most. Are they dictatorial or are they servant-leaders? If you are given the opportunity to fill a leadership position, which will you be?

Wed 6/8 - John 13 – Lesson 2

Jesus Explains Lesson of Washing Feet

John 13:12 (ESV) When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?

Jesus asked them if they understood what had just happened. Were they thinking, “Of course we do, You washed our feet,” or were they realizing there was a deeper meaning? From Peter’s resistance, we can conclude that they thought their Master should not stoop that low. They thought it was beneath their Teacher and Lord to do a servant’s task. Since they weren’t quite grasping the full import of Jesus’ gesture, He explained it.

John 12:13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.

Jesus acknowledged that He was their leader, their chief, their Lord. The disciples believed Jesus to be their Messiah, the One they were to learn from and worship.

John 13:14 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.

Jesus gave them a pattern of service to follow. He was servant-leadership personified. He explained that if He, who truly is the highest and mightiest, could humble Himself to serve them, the disciples certainly were not too good to serve one another.

John 13:16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Jesus was truly their High Priest. If He could serve them, then they surely could serve one another. Jesus was (and is) the Master of all, and as His servants we are certainly not above Him. Therefore, we must humble ourselves to serve as He served. Service is not exclusive to the act of foot-washing. Service should be a life-style of those who believe in Jesus as their Teacher, their Lord, their Savior, their all-in-all. Service is meeting the needs of someone even if it means placing yourself in an uncomfortable or unpleasant situation. Servant leadership is being willing to work alongside those who answer to you in order to meet a common goal. Servant leadership that takes on the work no one else wants to be responsible for. It is figuring out the solution to the problem and doing what it takes to complete the task. In other words, a leader does not exist simply to “boss around” the workers. A true leader’s goal is to build up and bring out the strengths of the workers.

John 13:17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus promised that those who understood His example and obeyed it would be blessed. Case in point: if you are feeling “needy,” find someone with a greater need and do something to help them. Then you will feel blessed even though your need is still there.  The opposite is also true: those who do not follow the example of servanthood miss out on blessings. They exclude themselves because they are on a course of disobedience rather than obedience, serving self rather than serving Jesus and others.

John 13:18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

Jesus knew which of the disciples truly trusted and loved Him as the Son of God and who did not. He knew whom the Father had chosen for eternal life, to be included in their heavenly family forever. Jesus also knew who would betray Him and gave the disciples information they would later remember. The betrayer would eat bread with Him.

Matthew 26:23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.”

As we will see later in this chapter, Jesus handed the dipped bread directly to Judas Iscariot.

John 13:19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.

Jesus prophesied about the dipping of the bread, so that when they recalled His words, their faith would be strengthened. Jesus used the form of “I AM” that is the name of God when He said they would know that “I am He.” This would be a clear claim to equality with God the Father.

John 13:20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Jesus would be sending His disciples out on a mission to share His teachings, His love, and the way to salvation with the world. Receiving them well would be the same as receiving Him well. Also, those who receive Jesus are receiving the Father, the One who sent Him.

The IVP New Testament Commentary:

Seen in the context of the foot-washing, this statement of the dignity of the Christian witnesses is not an expression of power and authority in any worldly sense. The one who represents Christ by bearing the same self-sacrificing love of God will meet with the same response Jesus met (cf. 15:18—16:4) but will also be the agent of the same eternal life that comes through knowledge of the Father in the Son by the Spirit. Each disciple should walk through his or her day with a consciousness of being on such a mission, which is only made possible through the closest intimacy with Jesus (15:1-17). (check out the entire commentary at www.biblegateway.com)

Jesus, God’s Son, was God’s ambassador to mankind, and as His offspring, we are Jesus’ ambassadors to the world. The disciples did not fully understand their calling as witnesses at this point in history but would recall these words when Jesus commissioned them after His resurrection.

Q – It’s not just about washing feet. Jesus “stooped down” to serve those truly beneath Him. We are to follow His example by doing things, sometimes unpleasant tasks, for others. The washing of the disciples’ feet was of course a lessor example than Jesus’ dying on the cross as the replacement for those who truly deserved to die. Jesus suffered and DIED for us. Are we willing to lay aside our pride and serve others for Him? Even if it makes us uncomfortable? Even if we have to get dirty? Even if society sees it as stooping too low? We cannot stoop lower than our Master stooped for us. There is no lower place than the humiliation of the cross.

Fri 6/10 - John 13 – Lesson 3

Jesus Predicts Judas’ Betrayal

John 13:21 (ESV) After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Jesus had alluded to His betrayal when He quoted from Psalm 41:9, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”  What Jesus had just revealed to the disciples hurt His heart, His human side, even though as God He knew these things must be. Therefore, He was “troubled.” In case the disciples did not pick up on His meaning, He then made it clear by announcing that one of them would betray Him.

John 13:22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.

The disciples were looking at each other and wondering, “Okay…which one of us is He talking about?” The Gospels of Matthew and Mark both record the disciples asking Jesus, “Is it I?”

Matthew 26:21-22 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”

Mark 14:17-19 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve.  And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?”

They were not pointing fingers to their other brothers. They first asked Jesus about themselves. I believe they were acutely aware of their human frailty and realized it could be any one them. It is amazing that the disciples had enough spiritual knowledge at that time to humbly look at themselves and wanted to make sure they would be true to their Lord and Savior. This shows that they had grown enough to look at themselves honestly first and their brothers second. Considering at times they were concerned about which one of them would be “first” in the kingdom or sit at Jesus’ right hand, the humility displayed at that time was evidence of their growth.

John 13:23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.

The disciple whom Jesus loved is how John always referred to himself in his gospel. John was seated at Jesus’ side. Peter told John to ask Jesus who He was talking about, who was the culprit, the guilty party?

John 13:25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”

John leaned back against Jesus, evidence of his intimate friendship with the Master. John may have even come in close to whisper when He asked the Lord who the betrayer would be.

John 13:26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

To those of us reading this account centuries later, it seems Jesus made the answer pretty clear when He said it would be the one He gave bread to after He had dipped it. Then He immediately handed it to Judas Iscariot. He did exactly what He just told them He would do.

John 13:27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

Satan, the evil one, filled Judas as soon as he received the bread. Jesus released Judas to go and betray Him to the authorities for which Judas would be paid thirty measly pieces of silver. He told Judas to commit this act against Him quickly. Jesus, of course, knew HIS TIME HAD COME.

John 13:28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

Once again, the disciples seemed clueless. Osmium heads! (in case you missed the earlier lesson – osmium is denser than lead.) They did not understand what Jesus wanted Judas to do quickly. Jesus was talking about the most intimate betrayal only hours away, a kiss, but they still did not realize Judas was the betrayer. They failed to notice that Jesus handed the bread to Judas right after His statement that he would hand it to the betrayer! Since Jesus was the Bread of Life, Jesus was handing not only a morsel of bread, but Himself over to the betrayer. Since this exchange flew over their heads, the disciples tried to postulate what Jesus intended for Judas to do. Since he was treasurer for the group, they thought Jesus sent him on an errand to buy items needed for the feast or on an errand of mercy to buy something for the poor.

John 13:30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

So as soon as Judas received the bread from Jesus’ hand and was told to do what he was going to do quickly, he slipped out into the darkness of night. Darkness has the connotation of foreboding, evil, and sinfulness. The evil of Satan had entered Judas’ sinful heart, and he hurried to carry out his dastardly deed. Judas made the choice to allow the Enemy of God, Satan, to have his way with him. He gave in to the temptation rather than resisting evil in the name of Jesus. But he was also God’s instrument to bring about His plan of redemption – JESUS’ TIME HAD FINALLY COME.

Q – Jesus once again demonstrated His deity through the display of omniscience (knowing everything) when He predicted that the one who took the dipped bread from His hand would betray Him. The disciples did not understand it immediately but would recall it in the gospel accounts later. Jesus knew exactly what was to unfold over the next few hours, but He told Judas to leave the meal and betray Him. His death was not simply a tragic accident, or just history’s most notable betrayal – it was a conscious choice Jesus made to die in our place. His death opened the door to Heaven through the greatest act of love ever demonstrated. He did this for you. Do you believe this to be true? If you have not already done so, surrender to His mighty love and His right to control your life. You will never regret it!

Mon 6/13 - John 13 – Lesson 4

A New Commandment

John 13:31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.

As soon as Judas left to betray Him, Jesus began instructing the remaining disciples about His glorification, a new command, and His eminent departure. Judas would not need this teaching since He did not truly believe as these faithful ones did, and, therefore, would not become one of Jesus’ witnesses. The lessons in the next few chapters were for the faithful, those chosen to be His apostles, His ambassadors to the ends of the earth. He saved the “family lessons” until the imposter left the supper.

Jesus spoke of the crucifixion and His subsequent glorification as already fulfilled. Since the betrayal was in progress, God’s plan was irrevocably set in motion. Earlier, Jesus had stated, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32) His obedience in going to the cross would ultimately bring glory to the Father by redeeming those chosen to be in His forever family. Jesus’ complete meekness in humbly serving, being betrayed, tied to a whipping post, and finally crucified was actually a display of perfect strength and extravagant love to carry out the Father’s will, to fulfill the purpose for which He had been implanted in the virgin Mary’s womb. Jesus was looking past all this to the time after His resurrection when He would return to the Father’s side in His completely glorified state.

John 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

Since Jesus was the teacher, and His disciples were the students, they were like children. Children follow the example of their parents or their teacher, so Jesus lovingly addressed them as little children before giving them important instructions. Pay attention, disciples! Jesus didn’t have much time left in which to teach them all they would need to know after His return to the Father. We should pay attention as well because the next three chapters are Jesus’ final instructions to the Apostles, and there is much we can glean from them!

Back in chapter 8, we discussed that Jesus told the Jews they could not follow Him where He was going. Now He said the same thing to the eleven. They could not immediately follow Jesus to the Father because He was leaving them here as His witnesses. Jesus was about to fulfill the purpose for which He was born, and then they would remain here to complete the mission to which Jesus commissioned them. As each of them completed his earthly service, he would pass through the portal of physical death and into the arms of His Savior.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

How did Jesus love? Jesus loved through words, but He had corresponding actions that demonstrated His love. He loved by example. Jesus loved wholeheartedly and unconditionally. The disciples were sinners just like you and me, but Jesus loved them as His own brothers. Jesus loved them better than His brothers because the disciples wanted to do the will of the Father, and at this point His biological half-brothers were not living that way. In fact, His bio-brothers did not believe Him to be the Son of God until after His death and resurrection! However, Jesus still drew His bio-brothers into His family when they finally woke up and believed. At one point all we who believe were dead in our sin, but when the Lord drew us to Him and we trusted in Jesus we died TO our sin and were re-created, awakened in His righteous ness. Jesus loved so intensely that He willingly died an excruciating, demoralizing death on the cross for His people, both Jews and Gentiles. As Christians, we are to love as He loved – sacrificially. We are enabled to love sacrificially when we trust in Jesus. We are only capable of this kind of love through the power of the Holy Spirit within us.  

John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We are to be known by our love for each other. How will people see this love? It’s not a love that emptily flatters, that gives trinkets of affection with no real intimacy. Our love is to be different than that seen in the world at large. What do we do to demonstrate that love in such a way that the world will notice and give glory to God? I’ve often heard it said, “Love is a verb.” A verb is an action word. Being there, really present, when people are in distress meaning NOT on your cell phone but truly listening and caring is loving. Another demonstration of love is meeting material needs. The church members taking food, clothing, and even money to families in a time of crisis is an action visible to non-Christians. We can take care of someone’s children while they are at the hospital with their spouse or another child. Mowing an elderly member’s lawn, taking someone shopping or delivering groceries to someone confined to home due to age or illness, praying with a brother or sister. If you are unable to get out, you can pray over the phone with another believer to encourage them or write a note in a card and mail it or even communicate as we do today by taking advantage of social media outlets. If you think about it for a few minutes, I am sure you can find a way to love your brother or sister in Christ!

John 13:36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”

Peter was stuck on the statement that Jesus was leaving. He wanted to know exactly where He intended to go. Jesus assured Peter that even though he could not follow Him right then, he would be able to later. The disciples had a very important job to do – spreading the gospel to all nations.

John 13:37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Peter’s bravado surfaced as usual and he told Jesus he would follow him even to death. Peter truly believed he would be willing to die for Jesus. In Peter’s heart, he wanted to die for Jesus, but his flesh, his human frailty got the best of him. Eventually, Peter would be strengthened by the Lord and would die a martyr’s death but not right away.

John 13:38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Jesus prophesied again. I guess I never thought of it that way before, but you are exactly right! I’m not sure I thought of it exactly that way until just now myself. LOL. As God, Jesus knew the future that Peter would deny ever knowing Him. Must have been hard for Peter to hear. Peter’s heart would be shattered when this prediction came true, and He would be deeply ashamed and mortified that he could deny the Lord. We’re getting ahead of the story, but many of you know the outcome anyway.

Q – Love one another as I have loved you. Sounds simple, doesn’t it. But is it easy to love as Jesus loved? Can we love the person who is acting in a very unlovable way? Can we love the believer who is living on the street and covered in filth? We cannot do it alone. The only way we can truly love as Jesus loved is if His Holy Spirit is doing it through us. We must be surrendered to Him and controlled by His love in order to love as He commands us to love.