NBBC SS: John 13

Introduction:

John 13:1-4 “1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

The phrase “the Feast of the Passover” gives us an important time marker, indicating that this event is taking place the day before the sacrifice of the Passover lamb.

This lamb was sacrificed in remembrance of what the Lord did in sparing the occupants of the homes of the Israelites that had the blood of a the Passover lamb upon their doors from death.

Interestingly, the day in which the Passover lamb would be sacrificed would also be the day in which the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world would be sacrificed.

It’s rather interesting to consider what Jesus knows here, according to John’s account.

First, think about what this does for the movement of the narrative.

Things slow down to get a view into Jesus’ thoughts.

Have you ever gone through a circumstance in which it felt that things were in slow motion, even agonizingly slow?

The effect of this is to draw us further in Jesus’ circumstances.

We begin to feel the weight of the hour that is before him, thinking about the ones that He loves that He will leave behind on earth.

Notice, what is it that Jesus knows first?

His hour had come that He would return to the Father out of this world.

We’ve already discussed that Jesus’ hour involves glorifying the Lord, show His greatness, in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross (being “lifted up” like the serpent in the wilderness).

Notice, though, Jesus also includes as part of this that He will leave this world to return to the Father.

Jesus is making an incredible suggestion here.

So far, when Jesus has mentioned His hour, it’s been specifically about His suffering, hence His death.

Here, Jesus’ inclusion of His return to the Father out of this world suggests Jesus will overcome His suffering and death.

Jesus looks beyond the event of His suffering and death to when He will return to the Father.

Hence, Jesus’ suffering and death is not the end.

Jesus also is thinking about those that He loves.

It’s incredible that in the multitude of thoughts that are going through Jesus’ mind related to His death and departure from this world, He’s also thinking of those that He loves.

This demonstrates for us the greatness of Jesus’ love if He has prioritized thinking about them in conjunction with the event that lies before Him in His crucifixion as the sacrifice for our sins.

2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,

I’ll be honest, this piece of the passage has occupied a great deal of my attention, particularly as a warning.

The term devil is referenced 3 times in total in John’s Gospel.

John 6:70, anticipating Judas’ betrayal of Jesus; hence, there’s an identification of Judas with devil-like activity.

John 8:44, the devil is a murderer (destroyer)and a liar, the source [father] of lies.

We see the evidence of the devil’s work in Judas.

Judas was instrumental in destroying the life of Jesus

Judas also lied in an attempt to cover up his tracks when it came to taking money from the moneybox John 12:6

What can we assume, then, would have been the devil’s tactics in convincing Judas to betray Jesus?

Lying

You know what? - Judas believed these lies! in the presence of Jesus Who is Truth!

Truthfully, this is so scary to consider - the devil tells lies that people believe!

This is why we need the truth from Jesus so desperately, because the devil is really good at telling lies

3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,

Let’s think about this.

What we have so far, is a description of the circumstances surrounding Jesus as this moment.

We’re getting a glimpse into the mind of God!

He’s thinking about His death and departure.

He’s thinking about those that He loves.

He knows about the lies that one of His disciples has believed that has led that same one to choose to betray Jesus.

However, all of these circumstances are balanced with this reference.

If the Father has given all things into Jesus’ hands, what does that suggest about Jesus?

He has authority.

Not just any authority, but unparalleled authority, if it includes all things.

The term “knowing” also leads us to concluding that Jesus is confident that the Father has given Him this authority.

This is mind-blowing because Jesus is going to be betrayed in tandem with the lies that the enemy has prompted Judas to believe.

This seems like things are out of control.

But they aren’t - because Jesus has authority over all things, even the devil and Judas who is believing the lies that the devil has told him.

But Jesus is not just confident in the authority that the Father has given to Him.

Jesus is also confident in His identity.

He knows where He came from - sent by God for the purpose long ago prophesied.

He knows that He is going back to God to assume His exalted role in demonstration of His identity as the Messiah.

This confidence concerning His authority and identity in the midst of His impending death and betrayal as He loves His disciples then forms the context for His next action.

4 got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. 5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”

This is absolutely fascinating for Jesus, in the midst of something admittedly stressful (cf. Jn 12), He decides to serve His disciples.

This service, as I’m sure that we all are aware, was considered the least desirable given what the feet of our forebears walked through.

Yet Jesus chose to do this in the face of His betrayal and death, departure, out of His love for His disciples, confident in His authority and identity.

Consider also, who was included in this group that Jesus washed their feet?

Peter, who will speak up in a moment, and will speak up during Jesus’ trial but not in support of Jesus, but in denial.

Judas, who has believed the lies of the devil in the face of the truth of Jesus to betray Jesus.

The others who will flee when Christ is put in custody before His crucifixion (save John).

In other words, this demonstration of humble service is not discriminatory based on how others would treat Jesus.

John 13:6 “6 So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.””

Herein, we have an interaction between Jesus and Peter that illustrates the humility associated with Jesus’ action of washing His disciples’ feet.

We can almost hear the tone of shock in Peter’s voice when He questions Jesus’ actions.

I think that we sometimes have a difficult time with Peter’s reaction because his questioning suggests that Jesus is doing something not only contrary to Peter’s expectations but that Jesus shouldn’t be doing.

Peter’s shock quickly changes into an emotional denial: “You’ll never wash my feet!”

Jesus responds to Peter’s shock and denial by pointing out some obvious things.

Peter was more focused on the act instead of the One performing the act.

To a certain extent, this is somewhat understandable given the shock value associated with this activity.

The most important person in the room does not wash the feet of others!

Lest we think that this is a temptation unique to Peter, this also happened with Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus (Lk 10).

Thus, we’re faced with the truth that if those in the presence of Jesus can struggle with focusing on Jesus, so also can we who are removed from His physical presence.

Jesus’ next statement reveals something more that is going on with Peter’s heart.

First, consider how Jesus’ reference to “wash” does not include “feet” but instead the general “you.”

While in English we can use “you” to refer to a group of individuals that we are addressing, Jesus uses a singular “you” to identify Peter.

This suggests the work of Jesus on the individual level with each person.

Further, it alludes to that Jesus is speaking to something more than just the footwashing that He is undertaking.

Also, let’s consider the phrase “part with Me,” as it gives a rather somber tone to this interaction.

Jesus will use this phrase in John 8:29; 15:27; 16:32 to refer to the solidarity that He enjoys with the Father.

This verse and John 17:24 are the only verses in John’s Gospel where Jesus uses this phrase to refer to something other than His relationship with the Father.

In fact, John 17:24 includes Jesus’ prayer that those that the Father has given to Jesus would be with Him to see the glory that the Father has given to Him.

This suggests the solidarity that Jesus desires to have with His disciples in the Kingdom that He has proclaimed.

Additionally, this suggests Jesus’ solidarity with the Father Who gave Him the glory that He desires for His disciples to see.

Therefore, Jesus is calling attention to the truth that others, through Jesus, can have the same relationship with the Father that Jesus has.

Peter’s expectations have obscured his ability to see the spiritual significance of Jesus’ humble picture of serving His disciples through washing their feet.

Just as Jesus has humbly washed the feet of His disciples, so also will He humbly die on the cross to shed His blood that will wash them clean of their sins.

This washing through the blood of Christ will then mean that they can genuinely share in the Kingdom with Jesus and the Father.

Jesus’ final statement to Peter actually is directed to all of the disciples in general.

Peter has responded to Jesus’ 2nd statement by exclaiming that he wants Jesus to wash him thoroughly.

Peter is beginning to see the significance.

However, he’s still focused on the act of washing instead of strictly on Jesus.

Jesus is mixing the washing metaphor to help His disciples understand that He is about to be betrayed.

The term clean is traditionally thought of in terms of purity from dirt or stain.

It is also translated elsewhere as innocent.

In other words, Jesus knows who is guilty in terms of His impending betrayal.

John 13:12 “12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?” 13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.” 14 “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” 16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.” 17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

Jesus’ humble act is thus to serve as an example for that which is to characterize the service that we render to one another.

How does Jesus describe the one that takes on this attitude of service to others?

Blessed.

You are blessed if you humbly serve others.

This sort of humility then says that whatever I need to do to serve my brothers and sisters in Christ, it is a blessing.

Illustration: Camp - cleaning up after a sick camper and cleaning the bathrooms.

We can say that because of Jesus’ humble example of service that foreshadows His sacrificial death, we can humbly serve others, regardless of what the Lord leads us to do.

John 13:18-20 “18 “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’” 19 “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.” 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.””

Jesus is quoting here from Psalm 41:9.

Notice that the emphasis that Jesus draws here concerns encouraging His disciples to believe in Jesus’ identity.

Jesus’ mastery of the knowledge of the events that are about to occur not only suggests foreknowledge but His control of the same events.

Hence, His purpose of promoting belief in His identity would then result in greater confidence in His Words.

We looking back to these events can have the same confidence with this trustworthy testimony to Jesus’ Words and His foreknowledge of these events.

Jesus’ encouragement to belief then culminates with a “Truly, Truly” statement.

It’s important for us to remember that Jesus has just referenced the one that would betray Him is one who has fellowshipped with Jesus.

This verse is drawing a significant contrast between those that would reject Jesus and those that would receive Jesus.

In other words, it’s much better to receive Jesus for you are also receiving the Father, rather than rejecting Him in like fashion to Judas.

John 13:21-30 “21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” 22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. 23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” 25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.”

The scene before us is likely another familiar one.

I believe that the continued pace of the text with focusing on Jesus’ emotions, the revelation that one would betray Jesus, the inquiry into the identity of the betrayer, Jesus’ identification through giving something to Judas, Judas being indwelt by Satan, and Judas’ departure create such a vivid picture for us that these images are burned into our mind’s eye.

This has the effect of inviting us to experience the narrative with the disciples.

The fact that Jesus gave Judas something to identify Judas as His betrayer is absolutely fascinating.

Even in this act of betrayal that Judas would commit against Jesus, Jesus gave something to Judas!

Jesus humbly served Judas in washing his feet.

Jesus has now given something to Judas.

Granted, this act of giving identified Judas as Jesus’ betrayer.

Nonetheless, Jesus gave something to Judas, suggesting Jesus’ generosity, even towards Judas in this act of betrayal.

It’s also fascinating that the other disciples did not understand the significance of Jesus’ statement to Judas.

The disciples were thinking of Jesus’ statement in terms of observing the feast that is before them.

Not in terms of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus that very night.

In other words, the disciples were not anticipating the events that were going to happen that evening, let alone the next day culminating in Jesus’ death.

This suggests for us just how jarring the events that follow were for the disciples.

We often read these events with Jesus’ resurrection looming large in the foreground of our mind.

When we read narratively, we can experience with the disciples the significant emotions of disappointment and grief that make Jesus’ impending resurrection all the richer a joyful experience.

Jesus’ humble service to those that would forsake Him, deny Him, and betray Him along with His generosity even to His betrayer suggests that Jesus is kinder and more loving than anyone we could ever know.

John 13:31-33 “31 Therefore 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 will glorify Him immediately. 33 “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’”

What Jesus says to His disciples here is nothing new.

Jesus will be glorified, or receive great praise from the Father, by dying on the cross and, in turn, the Father will be glorified in Jesus’ sacrifice.

Notice how it is that Jesus refers to His disciples.

“Little children.”

This term is unique to John in his use, being employed here and 7 more times in John’s first letter.

It’s an affectionate term the denotes relationship.

Further, John uses it throughout his first letter to emphasize his readers’ true relation to God and encourage them to avoid sin (1 Jn 2:1), give them confidence that Jesus has forgiven their sins (1 Jn 2:12), abide in Jesus (1 Jn 2:28), live in righteousness (1 Jn 3:7), to have confidence over the works of evil (1 Jn 4:4), and to avoid idolatry (1 Jn 5:21).

Thus, in the face of this news that where Jesus is going they cannot go, particularly in terms of His immediate sacrifice, they need encouragement of their relation to Jesus.

John 13:34-5 “34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

When we read this statement, I imagine that we’re prompted to inquire, how is this new?

Has not Jesus summarized the Law in terms of loving God and others?

This is true.

However, loving another as you love yourself is qualitatively different from loving others the way that Jesus loves.

Jesus loved sacrificially to the point that He was willing to be humiliated even in that same sacrifice.

Hence, Jesus is commanding that the love that is shown is just like His.

This does not negate the earlier summation of the Law.

Instead, it adds to the demonstration of love a new aspect in seeing Jesus as the example by which Christians pattern their love for one another.

Notice what the result is of this kind of love.

It will indicate that one is Jesus’ disciple.

It’s no wonder that Jesus would make this observation for others would be able to clearly identify Jesus’ disciples through His most significant act in humbly sacrificing His life to bring forgiveness of sins and new life to all who believe in Him.

John 13:36-8 “36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” “37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” “38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.”

When we read Peter’s statement, does it not surprise us?

Jesus has already publicly acknowledged that He would be returning to the Father even before this interaction (Jn 7:33-4).

However, Jesus does not chide Peter for this response but uses it as an opportunity to teach Peter.

Jesus acknowledges to Peter that, while he cannot follow Jesus now, he will follow Jesus later in terms of Peter’s eventual martyrdom.

However, this martyrdom is not immediate.

When Peter makes his statement about laying down I believe that we can take him seriously.

At the moment, he made his statement in good faith to Jesus.

However, Jesus knew Peter’s heart and his subsequent actions.

Yet, even Jesus’ statement concerning Peter’s lapse anticipates a time when Peter would be faithful to the Lord, even in the face of losing his life.

In a way, it suggests for us that importance of relying on the Lord to produce faithfulness in us when called upon to do so in circumstances in which it would otherwise be detrimental to do so.

Conclusion: Church, in our study today, Jesus’ sacrificial humility and gracious love have been on abundant display. Satan has demonstrated how powerfully deceptive he is so that we must turn to Jesus as our Truth. Further, we must rely on Jesus to produce the humble, sacrificial love that would identify us with Him, even when following Jesus means sacrifice.