Jesus the Servant - Pt II

Now Jesus already knew the Father had given all things into His hands, it was no surprise. He had just said “I came for this purpose” (12:22). But wait he knew even before

John the Baptizer spoke that Jesus knew all things had been given (Jn3:35)

John 3:35 NASB95

35 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.

We get to the point, this hour, that Jesus was about to face agony of the crucifixion, of taking on the sin of the world, the guilt, the shame, the horror, it pleased the Father to crush Him, to put His grief on Him as a guilt offering.

isa53:10

Isaiah 53:10 NASB95

10 But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

Jesus was going not as a victim but as a victor. He could have backed out, but He was backing up all that He said with His actions to humble himself. He did not come from a place of weakness but a place of meekness, a place of authority, because the Father and given all things into His hands.

Jesus knew where He came from and where He was going; He knew His authority; His relationship; His identity

He knew His past with God; His future with God and was determined to glorify God the Father in the present.

“It was not in spite of but because of His consciousness of His divine origin and destination, that He rose from the supper, and assumed the dress and posture of a slave; for a servant in truth He was, being none other than the ideal Servant delineated in Isaiah’s prophecy.” - Tasker.

Jesus washing some feet

Washing dishes, washing a car, but washing feet, all are a type of service, but there is more to it then meets the eye here.

John 13:4 NASB95

4 got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

John 13:5 NASB95

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.

Only one question to ask in this section, there are some very specific actions that John notes, what are they?

Got up

Laid aside

Taking a towel

Girded himself

Poured water

Began to wash

And to wipe

The reason I wanted us to think about these vivid statements is that John wrote these statements years after they happened. The gospel was not written on the night in which they happened. But they were imprinted on his mind and years later they were recounted.

Trench said: “John’s account read’s like that of an eye-witness who had watched with wonder and suspense - short staccato sentences.”

But think about this, at the time, this would have just seemed weird, something that would have been for the lowest of low servant to do their master was doing.

Dods said: “Each step in the whole astounding scene is imprinted on the mind of John. ‘Next He pours water into the basin,’ the basin which the landlord had furnished as part of the necessary arrangements.”

Jesus knew what was just ahead of him, yet at this crucial time He is taking on the role of a lowly servant and washing the disciples feet, all who abandon him, one who would betray him, all He would love to the utmost until the end.

Just a few more comments before we get to tonight’s passage

Rose from supper

A place of rest and comfort

Laid aside His garments

His glory, taking off His heavenly covering.

Took a towel

Being ready to work. took the form of a servant, and came ready to work not to be served, but to serve

Poured water, ready to clean

Jesus poured out His blood to cleans us from the guilt and penalty of our sin. Then sat down again. This is portrayed in shadow here (Jn13:12)

Jesus was clothed in humility here, we will pick up more on this next week, maybe consider what Peter had to say

1 Peter 5:5 NASB95

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Let’s look together at the passage, I think to keep in context we should back up to (v.5)

John 13:5–6 NASB95

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?”

John 13:6–7 NASB95

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.”

John 13:8–9 NASB95

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.”

John 13:10–11 NASB95

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.”

John 13:12 NASB95

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?

What do you see as the main theme of this passage? Is it foot washing or do you think it is more?

What assurance did Jesus give to Peter in (v.7)?

You will understand hereafter, you don’t get it now, but you will later.

What warning did Jesus give to Peter in (v.8)?

Hey if I do not wash you, you have no part of me.

What confusion did Peter have then in (v.9)?

OK Lord, then wash all of me

What explanation does Jesus give in (v.10)?

You are already clean You only need your feet washed

But not all of you are clean

What truth does Jesus reveal in (v.11)?

He knows His betrayer

What question does Jesus ask and of whom (v.12)?

Do you know what I have do to you

To His disciples

Peter’s Question

Here is their teacher, their master, whom Peter called (Mt16:16)

Matthew 16:16 NASB95

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And he is now trying to object to Jesus washing His feet and the others allowing this to happen, like they are missing it. That He is great and they are unworthy to allow him to do it.

Do you ever feel unworthy of Jesus love, of His sacrifice to you?

Peter felt unworthy, uncomfortable with Jesus doing such a humble act of service for him. He had no choice look at the Lord’s words

John 13:8 NKJV

8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Consider this

Peter preached the kingdom, caste out demons, but needed to be washed

Peter saw the transfiguration but needed to be washed

Peter walked on water but needed to be washed

This was a powerful act, example that we need the washing of Jesus if we want to enter into the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, we can only enter through Him (Jn14:6)

Look at this quote:

“The same well-meaning but false humility would prevent him (and does prevent many) from stooping to receive at the hands of the Lord that spiritual washing which is absolutely necessary in order to have any part in Him.” (Alford)

Its not about you getting your stuff right

You don’t have to be a bible expert, just be washed by the blood

You don’t have to be holy, just humbly receive Christ His way, through the washing of the water of the word that leads to the regeneration by the Spirit through baptism.

It is not a matter of your skin being made wet, it is a matter of a circumcision not made with hands but the hand of God washing away your sins.

Well, I kinda strayed from the passage, so let me get back to it

John 13:6–7 GNB

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Are you going to wash my feet, Lord?” 7 Jesus answered him, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.”

Clearly Peter did not understand. This was nothing new to him, was it? Consider (Mt16:21-22) when He told Jesus he would not suffer and die, and be raised up again.

How about you, are there things that you clearly did not understand until later?

Now we can move on, enough on this, I believe we covered it enough now

Wash me all!

If you do my stinky feet, might as well wash all of me.

Again Peter did not get it, Jesus was going to explain

Peter was not sure what to do, so he decided to tell Jesus what to do. Dod’s said this:

“ A moment ago he told his Master He was doing too much: now He tells Him He is doing too little.” - Dod’s

Another good thought, quote I read was from (Temple) “sometimes we show a servants heart by accepting the service of others for us. If we only serve, and refuse to be served, it can be a sign of deeply rooted and well-hidden pride. ‘man’s humility does not begin with the giving of service, it begins with the readiness to receive it. For there can be much pride and condescension in our giving of service.’”

Physical vs. Spiritual bathing both needed

speak of foot washing then go to physical bath

When you trust in Jesus and you were baptized for forgiveness of sins you had your spiritual bath.

You then only need the foot washing; the continual bath, foot washing. by the continual trust in Jesus, continual relationship with Jesus.

One more point and we close out tonight

Do you know what I did?

John 13:12 NASB95

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?

Jesus asks a simple but profound question, what was it?

Why do you think it is profound, if you do?

I think you can agree that Jesus entire ministry was one big lesson, teaching to prepare the disciples, and especially the apostles for what was to come. Some in words some in example followed by words.

This passage tonight while they did not understand yet would not be left up to chance He would explain and they would further understand later.