The Master's Way

John 13:1–17 NASB95

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. 2 During supper, the devil having already 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 forth from God and was going back to God, 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. 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.” 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.

v.3a-“Having given all things into his hands…”

Jesus knowing and trusting that God has given him all things into his hands Jesus begins to serve. Jesus didn’t serve because he wanted or need a certain reaction from his disciples, or to satisfy some hidden desire within himself. No everything has already been given into his hands, and yet he didn’t retire, ride off into the sunset, or take a vacation. Having all things, He chose to serve and give what He has to others.

In this we learn that we should too should serve with confidence. Not lacking anything. We don’t serve to get something out of it, but to give what we already have away. We don’t serve to find fulfillment. We already have more than all we could wish or desire in Christ. We serve to follow Jesus and love others. Name one thing that is not yours in Jesus a Christ. For if all things have been given to Him and we have a share with Him, then in Christ we too have been given all things pertaining to life and godliness. Don’t come washing feet to find some promotion, false humility, or to been made much in the eyes of the one whose feet you are washing. Wash feet because there is nothing else you need. And having the cup of your life filled to overflowing, there is nothing left to do but to pour yourself out. We don’t wash to get, we wash to give. Jesus washed their feet because all things where give into his hands.

So we too, having been given all things in Christ, shall wash each other’s feet...

v.8b- “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me…”

Jesus washes us so that we can be in relationship with him. Jesus removes all obstacles himself so that we can have a relationship with him that is free and clear to grow and mature into complete intimacy with him- where we become friends with God! If Christ has not washed you, you have no part or share with him.

We serve each other so that we can share in each others lives and grow in deeper fellowship with each other. It’s awkward to have your feet wash and to wash another’s foot. It brings to the surface a level of discomfort. But if we don’t share our discomfort with others how can we expect to be comforted by others. If we don’t expose our filth how can we be made clean. Before you deny yourself or someone else to wash feet be mindful of what you are truly saying, you have no share with me. You don’t get to share in my life. For the sake of fellowship and sharing, exercise humility and have your feet washed so that we all can be true family. So that deep unity can take place. Don’t be shy about it but come boldly to have that perfect bond of fellowship.

So that we can have a piece of each other, wash each other’s feet.

v.13a- “You call Me Teacher and Lord…”

If Jesus be our Lord (Master) and our teacher, we follow him because we are not greater than him. Each and everyone serves not as a lord but as one who has a Lord. We don’t serve others to have them follow us but we serve others that they might follow Jesus. We serve to demonstrate that we are ruled by another and we know our position.

If Jesus is your Lord and Teacher, wash each other’s feet...

v.15a- “I gave you an example...”

Jesus specifically tells us why he washes feet. To give an example of an action that can produce in us the humility he calls us to have. Jesus tells us that this example in which we are to carry on, calibrates our humility. All of us are prone to pride and pride leads to failure. To mitigate this tendency towards pride and hubris, Jesus gives to us an action that works humility into our lives and positions us back under submission to Him. For in our weakness He is made strong and His strength empowers our lives by the Holy Spirit to produce in us a Holy Life. You need to decrease so that Christ can increase.

Follow Christ’s example of serving others, and wash each other’s feet...

v.16a- “a slave is not greater than his master…”

If our lives are not modeled by our service to our Master Jesus, then we think we are greater than him. But to those who are humble and yield themselves to the Lordship of Jesus, freely and joyfully serve Him by serving others. When you wash feet, it’s hard not to be humbled and position ourselves under another. Washing feet is emptying yourself and taking the form of a servant which makes you just like Jesus.

No one is greater than Jesus, so wash each other’s feet...

v.17b- “you are Blessed if you do them.”

It blessed Jesus to serve his disciples in this way. To wash their feet that they could have a piece of Him. Jesus tells us that we too will be blessed if we do this. It will form a deeper bond between you and the person you serve. It will bless your heart to be humbled and orient yourself under His Lordship. There is a satisfaction of having done something right when you wash another’s feet. Like a sense of accomplishment when you rest after mowing a yard, or putting in a full productive days work. There are things that happen from time to time in our lives that result in us feeling blessed. It often comes unexpectantly and to our surprise. I believe that we can trust Jesus at His word that we will be blessed if we follow this example and washing another’s feet. For some of us it has been a long time since we have felt blessed. Some have forgotten the joy that comes with serving others. Some have not felt a sense of fulfillment that comes when we obey Jesus. It is likely that some have forgotten what it is like to have a piece of Jesus, to fellowship with Him, to have a share in His Kingdom. If that speaks of you my friend, then come and take some water, grab a towel, and wash some feet. Then you will have a part of Jesus and you will be blessed!

If you want a blessing, then wash each other’s feet...

Jesus speaks for himself and for all those who follow him, Wash each other’s feet. We can find Jesus here tonight among each other by washing each other’s feet. We can become a family here by washing each other’s feet. We can speak assurance into our doubting lives, claiming that we have all we need in Christ Jesus, by washing each other’s feet. Christ will bless you when you bless another by washing another’s feet.

Will you be like Jesus and wash some feet? In a moment after we share in a meal we will have a time to wash each other’s feet. There will not be a whole lot of prompting, there will not be anything else to say, There will just be time, open chairs, pitchers of water, towels, you, and the people around you. I am not asking you to pray, I am not asking you so say something neat or moving. Just wash feet and be receiving a blessing.

let’s Pray.