Learn From the Teacher

Learn from the Teacher

John 13:1-20

January 12, 2025

Lasts (or Last Event/occasions) are often imprinted into our minds so deep that we will never forget. I know that seems like a funny way to say that but allow me to explain. I do not remember the year exactly, but it had to be about 10-15 years ago and I had the last meaningful meal with a loved one. Neither he nor I knew it would be the last in-depth and personal conversation we would share.

I still remember the exact question I had prepared for him and the intentionality of his response. Now, the funny thing is, I still remember the restaurant where I met him, the table we sat at, the chairs and how worn they were, and the smell of the dinner. I also remember what he ordered.

When I asked him that question, I had been struggling with, I still remember the arrangements of the tater tots he was eating on his plate. For some of us, “lasts” are not as vivid. You may look back on a last meal, last laugh, and last conversation and wish you could capture it. But, for others, they are vivid and special.

We are getting ready to study the most documented and special “last” meal known to mankind in vivid detail provided us from 4 different angles. We are so blessed to have all four Gospels provide different but harmonious viewpoints of a meal that shapes our definition of who Christ was, is, and will be in our lives. Remember, Matthew presents Jesus as the Lion of Judah, Mark, the suffering Servant, Luke as the Son of Man and John as the Son of God.

Before we jump head first into our passage, we have to understand where we are in John. It has been a long time since studying this amazing Word. John starts with a prologue (introduction) in John 1:1-18 where the apostle introduces us to the WORD in the flesh. Then the rest of chapter 1 to the conclusion of chapter 12 make up the book of signs (7 to be precise). Chapter 13 starts the book of GLORY that captures the Last Super, and the crucifixion and resurrection. The final section is the epilogue (conclusion) with Christ’s final instruction and His assent.

Today John gives us an amazing transition from the Book of Signs to the Book of Glory. Using the words of Jesus, John concludes the first half of His Gospel and it captures all of the key themes that Jesus taught His closest followers and the public.

READ AND EXPOSIT JOHN 12:44-50

John 3:36 “36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him[1]”

This is the backdrop that we use to enter into the greatest “last” recorded in human history. Here we find our passage today and it’s lesson for us.

READ 13:1-3

13 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. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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[2]

The setting of the Last Supper is set. Matthew, Mark, and Luke give us more detail on this context. The Passover is set in a time when the city would have around 2-3 million people. The other Gospels record that he sends two disciples into a haystack to find a needle.

They were to find a man carrying water to follow to a room to have the last supper. Imagine finding a man carrying a jug of water and following him. It seems crazy to us, but culturally men don’t’ carry water jugs unless they are Assenes (a sect of Jews that were conservative Law followers). Nevertheless, imagine finding that out of 2 million.

John opens the Last Supper with Judas, but he will get his own sermon next week. We are going to step over the gray or hazy intro of Judas to cover him in detail next week. But, in this section, we have enough to cover in what Jesus has to teach us.

1.             Jesus Loves His Own:

The first lesson from these three verses is obvious and provided.

A.   To the end:

Jesus “having loved His own who were in the world, loved them to the end.” This truth reminds us that His mission has been fulfilled in keeping and loving His own (those who believe) to the end (completeness).  

Remember that in a few short hours, he will be arrested, and the abuse begins. But, even in light of that, John records, “He loved His own to the end.” Even when faced with the weight of torment, He is still loving His own to the end and KEEPING His own.

B.             To completion:

I have heard about the perseverance of the saints as you all have. I have even used that term but as we will see here and in the further chapters, its more like “preservation of the saints.” We will see in Jesus’s prayer how He repeatedly says that He has “kept” His own to the end and preserved them. He will pray for them and the FATHER Himself will keep them as Jesus goes to death. None are lost save one. So, instead of them persevering, they are being preserved.

Again, this is distinctive love here. This is a great love and is designed specifically for “HIS OWN” without end and came at a great price and with perfection. It was not a flawed human love but a divinely perfected and individual love. Please remember, God does love the world with common grace, but John here is showing a distinct love for “HIS own.”

As believers, know that you are loved with a distinct and individual love. I want you to know this. But, for those who do not know that this love is available for you, time is not over for you. You, too can have this. Believe the Words that I read to you in 12:44-50. It’s all right there!

2.             Jesus serves His own:

Pat did an amazing job last week! We did not plan this but His sermon was a carbon copy of what we are going to cover. Humility on display:

READ 4-12

rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 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. 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.” 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.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 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.”

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place…

Philippians 2 (what Pat taught) is the explanation of what we just read. Let’s go over it:

a.             He rose from supper:

In a simple act, the meaning is profound! Jesus ROSE from His position of authority (Phil 2:6) moved away from His rightful place and assumed a new role. He moved from exaltation and went to humiliation. The other Gospels highlight that the setting is that the disciples were just arguing about who is the most important of the 12. The ONE (Jesus) is the rightful king and the LORD, will teach them and us, a lesson on humility.

He rose and assumed the position of slave (no jew would wash anyone’s feet but their own just like today. But, he did so basically naked. He only had a towel around His waist. The humiliation that this would take blows my mind and it should you. I would not be caught dead doing this. Would you?

Look what He laid aside, His outer garments. (Philippians 2:5-8). He set aside His rightful robes and position in exchange for slave hood:

Phil 2:5-7

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[3]

b.             He poured and washed:

In an act of pouring out to cleanse nasty guy feet, He poured out living water to clean nasty men’s hearts. In our passage water is a symbol of cleansing the flesh and a window in what Christ was about to do spiritually. He would use His blood to wash the hearts of men. That is why Paul says in Phil 2:7 “but emptied Himself…”

The washing is that He did was a symbol of the greatest act conducted by a loving God to a wretched group of men in an upper room over some house in the Holy city. Because of His obedience to His Heavenly Father, Christ performs an act that is complete.

Vs 13:8- 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.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean.[4]

Church, please see this! Thank you Peter for your outburst! Because of Peter, we get to learn some valuable lessons!

3.             Jesus teaches His own:

Here is a summation of the lesson that Jesus teaches:

a.             Humility like His: He did not count Himself greater but emptied Himself to the point of the Cross for those whom He loves. How do we measure in that light of humility?

b.             The need for being washed: both the believer (out of pride, are you resisting His humble action of washing your feet? Nonbeliever, have you yet to allow Him to wash your feet? Unless the Lamb of God (Christ) washes you, you have no part with Him. Not all roads lead to heaven. There is only one, through His washing!

c.              The completeness of this washing: Jesus did this action once. Notice, there is not another Last Super or an offer for a re washing after super. This again shows the completeness of this action. The action is complete when Jesus regenerates the soul. You are saved, completely. I did not say perfect, but a new creation!

I know I am using the symbol of Him washing feet. But, allow me to be very clear. If you are not a believer and you can recognize that you are a sinner, Jesus is teaching you that you need to be cleaned of this sin. Allow Him to wash that away through His payment of that sin. No more symbols. There it is!

d.             He returns: Vs 12 I know that it is symbolism, but Jesus, after humiliating Himself in the act of washing the feet of His followers, returns to His position of authority. He returns to His place. In a powerful act, Jesus left His place of authority, went to be a servant unto death, then returned to His place of exaltation. This is where He is now. Back where He came from, sitting at the right hand of the Father advocating on your behalf.

Believers should read these verses and be embarrassed. When was the last time that you humbled yourself for another person? When is the last time that you have knelt in front of another person and washed their feet (cared for their lowest need)?

I want to be very clear, Jesus instituted 2 sacraments for us to follow today. Baptism and communion. Feet washing (the literal act) is not a third sacrament. It is a way of life. We must and should live this action every day that we interact with those around us.

Vs 12  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? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 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. 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. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 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.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 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.”[5]

“Do you understand?” If Jesus is willing and demonstrates His humility as LORD, we must be willing to allow our feet to be washed and do the same for others.

Vs 12 “Do you know what I have done TO you.” This means an intentional act and does not allow them to commentate on this action and the expectation is now given. He does not allow them to cast their own commentary in on the action that just happened! He clearly tells them the meaning of this. He did something TO them and expects us to follow in the act.

Some of you may have caught vs 18 where He says “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen…”

Before we get carried away with that “chosen” word. In this context, he is not talking about the “elect” from a salvation standpoint. He is talking about these guys. The chosen, here specifically, is the 11 in the room other than Him.

Judas, who we will cover next week, is NOT chosen and thus fills the prophecy of Psalm 41:9 (Even my close friend in whom I trusted would lift his heal…” Please know that God did not make him do this, rather he was allowed to act according to his will. A lot of these questions will be addressed next week. These “chosen” are the apostles. He chose THESE 11 for this promise of scriptural fulfillment for the Last Super in the upper room.

So, what do you learn from this? What is our action step? What do we do because of this amazing action by our LORD? 

4.             Learn from Jesus He is the Good Teacher.

What can we take away from this Last Super? I want to take you back to my introduction for a minute. I still smell that dinner and remember that question that I asked. I still see the salt on his plate and remember him pausing to consider my question. It was so timeless that in my mind, I am still there sharing that last meal.

For centuries, believers can enjoy this last meal with Jesus. By God’s great providence, we too are in that upper room watching this event. Do you see the truths that Jesus wants you to learn? Do you see the filth being washed from men’s feet that were just moments ago arguing over who is the greatest? Do you see their pettiness? Now, do you see yours?

Look church, these principles are not just for a time long ago to people who are not alive today. These principles are for you and me now. Here is what Jesus is teaching all of us.

a.             We are not too good or too important or too busy with life to serve others.

Allow me to press on this. Look, we are all busy, we are all running races that are fast. Look around, if you asked even high school kids, they would say, I am busy. I get it but what makes one person’s busy more important, more busy or better then anyone else's? We all make priorities for what is important.

For some of you, it may be getting plugged in here. For others, it may simply be calling that friend who needs that loving encouragement. My point is this, if you look around and you can’t say that you have washed anyone’s feet in a long time, I would argue that maybe it’s time to grab a rag.

b.             We are not to busy to offer the message of salvation:

We are to be the salt and light to a world on a freeway to hell. We are not the frozen chosen. My vision for 2025 is to equip you saints to go out. We are not to just come in. I have been praying about where to go in this year and overwhelmingly it is “Equip the saints” to go out.

Do you know what “saint” means? It means “faithful, loyal, and devoted”

Can I ask, would that define you? Are you being loyal, faithful and devoted to the example that Jesus has offered us? It is right here for us. We can see Him demonstrate how to serve.

I wonder, what was Jesus thinking about at this meal. His disciples had been arguing about who is the greatest all the while He remembered His rightful place in heaven. But these thoughts had to be clouded by the impending arrest, brutal beating, utter humiliation, and a Roman Cross. Then, the ultimate stress, the wrath of His Father.

With that as a backdrop, He, for the sake of one meal, gets up, takes off His robe, and washes the feet of 12 men, one who would betray Him. It sure puts our efforts of service to the test does it not? Where is our time going? Where does our treasure run off to? Where are we spending our talent?

I would conclude with this, The Master Teacher has sent you. My challenge to you is to go, be loyal, be a saint willing to wash some feet.