Servant Leadership and a Sacrificial Heart

John 13:1-17.

John 13:1, begins the second half of Johns Gospel.

As we noted when we began this journey, the Gospel is broken into two parts. Almost like two volumes.

The first 12 chapters are commonly referred to as the “Book of Signs” (or Miracles)

Jesus’ public ministry is covered in this first half.

John details many of the signs/miracles of Jesus

And Jesus also provides several Discourses, or Teachings and explanations.

Jesus speaks , at length, on the Jewish traditions and Festivals.

The audience is a variety of men and women, young and old.

One Hallmark of the ministry of Christ is this:

Where ever Jesus went, there was always a crowd- And with the crowd came questions and conversations

At time He causes some to question their own faith process, often times there is division in the crowd, as the conversations usually turned on the question of just exactly who Jesus was.

Much like today- There were those in the crowd who heard Jesus teach and believed.

Others heard the same message and for reasons of their own, they dismissed or simply were not persuaded to believe.

One thing of note, that should be emphasized in todays church more, is this:

Though crowd size varied as Jesus traveled the countryside of ancient Israel.

Jesus never chased after the ones that left-

He did pursue those that stayed- He mentored them, Taught them and Led them into a stronger personal Faith and belief in God the Father.

1- That was Jesus’ public ministry.

We now, starting in Chapter 13, begin to examine Jesus’ private ministry.

2- This section of Johns Gospel breaks down as follows:

In Chapters 13-17, We see Jesus alone with His Disciples.

In Chapters 18-21, The focus is shifted to Jesus’ final Glorious and Sacrificial Act of His death on the Cross.

We see in our passage today, Jesus profoundly showing the Disciples what real humility and servant-leadership truly looks like- In the Washing of the Disciples feet.

This passage blends the essence of sacrificial love and leadership, all aimed directly at the Cross of Calvary.

Jesus shows us how True leadership is found in the serving of others, selflessly, without ulterior motives.

In the same manner that Christ has called all of us to love and sacrifice of ourselves for the sake of others.

Having understood how Jesus engaged with the public, let's now explore how he turned his attention to a more intimate setting with his disciples.

1- Leading with Humility

John 13:1–5 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. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 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, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 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 Synoptic Gospels set two important themes,

1- Jesus using the imagery of the Passover elements of bread and wine to point to His broken body and His death.

Underlying is the account of Judas’ betrayal, Peters Denial and to top things off-

2- The Dispute of greatness that arises amongst the Disciples that evening.

But as usual- John has a different focus in view:

Servant-hood and Sacrificial Leadership.

Foot washing in the 1st Century was a dirty, nasty business.

So much so, that in the Jewish home, the Jewish servants were not required to perform this task for guests of the home.

This demeaning act was left to any Gentile or non-Jew servant who may be present. Only if there were no Gentile servants available in the home, was the Jewish servants required to do this.

In that day, most people walked where ever they needed to go. They wore sandals of various styles and walked on, mostly dirt roads.

Along the same paths the livestock and other animals traveled as well.

Sanitation was NOT at a premium in those days- One only has to use a little imagination to conclude what all might get collected on a persons sandals, the bottom edge of their garments and their lower legs and feet.

As such, it was tradition, that, as guest arrived, there was always a washbasin with towels available and the house servant to wash the guests feet, prior to entering the main portion of the home.

As this was the Passover meal for Jesus and the Disciples, and they were in a borrowed room, it should have fallen to one of the Disciples to provide the servant and the wash basin for this task.

As it was, They dropped the ball on this one. Not even the Inner Circle of Peter, James and John thought about this common task.

All the available ancient texts show that foot washing was a degrading and lowly task. But with the “social implications” as well.

When done in a family scenario, ie: The wife washing the Husbands feet, a child likewise for a parent- It was always a sign of great devotion and respect.

No where in those ancient historical records do we find, in strict social environments, a person of Higher status, washing the feet of those beneath them. It just wasnt done.

We can tell that the Disciples have committed a real etiquette gaff, for as verse 2 points out that ‘During Supper” is when Jesus began this humble act.

The meal had already been prepared, served to the table and the Disciples were reclining there (As required for the Passover meal)

How the Disciples missed this, is, again, beyond me.

Their, Master, Rabbi, Saviour should have been the last person in that room to be expected to bow so low.

yet here is Jesus, interrupting the most important meal on the Jewish calendar- To assume the task of a lowly servant.

It brings us to the question-

Do our lives properly represent the humility and selfless leadership, That Jesus portrays for us?

How can we ever measure up to a standard that begins and ends with the complete personal sacrifice for the sake of everyone around us?

The answer to these questions are really simple- Just do what Jesus did.

 Having understood the significance of humble service, we now turn our attention to how Jesus dealt with misconceptions of power among his disciples.

2. Breaking Misconceptions of Power

John 13:6–11 ESV

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 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.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 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.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Much like most of Jesus’ teaching, this carries a heavy overtone that reaches deeper than expected, after a surface reading of the text.

Despite the shock of the Disciples at Jesus’ act- Only Peter actually voiced an opinion.

Peters relationship dictated his response to Jesus, he truly loves and is totally devoted to Christ.

But His lack of understanding of the deeper Spiritual meaning, leaves him floundering- as often happened with Peter.

Vs-6 -7

“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

Vss 8-9

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.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

The point being missed by all the Disciples was that Jesus was not just showing them a great example of what Humble leadership looks like- He is giving them and example of His impending act of total submission with His death on the Cross.

Jesus even tries to calm Peter, by reassuring him that “afterwards” Peter will understand.

As Jesus has done before, He rebukes Peter for his stubbornness, but does so, gently- Just as a true leader should.

The rebuke is carefully nuanced in its wording- Jesus tells Peter, “ “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

Peter’s over-the-top response is typical of Peter, “ “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”

The nuance isnt in the need to be washed, but of WHO is doing the washing.

Jesus stresses the point, “If I do not wash you...”

The point is that once you have taken a daily bath, you need not take a whole bath again- only the washing of ones feet would be needed.

The difficulty here is Jesus is mixing both a practical and Spiritual act together to make His point.

Peter had already accepted the Greater truth of Jesus being the Messiah- He had been bathed in and has embraced that Truth.

He now need to only submit to the leading of Jesus as the Servant Leader to be completely washed clean.

Jesus is speaking of the eternal life and communion we will share with Him as Believers in Heaven.

And it is only by the Death of Christ on the Cross and our belief in it, our acceptance of that Sacrificial act and its impact on our lives-

That brings about our ability to Live forever in the Presence of God Almighty.

How does the transition from Jesus’ public ministry to his private ministry with the disciples reflect the importance of both broad outreach and intimate discipleship in the Christian faith?

If there is a disappointing part of the story, it would be that- Even this act of humble submission to perform an undignified task, such as footwashing- was not enough to dissuade Judas from what he was about to do.

In fact, Jesus taking the time to wash the feet of Judas, knowing full well what was about to take place- Puts an even stronger emphasis on just how much Jesus loves His followers and will show extreme patience with each of us.

The fact that Judas had to sit through the process, had to be tearing at his heart.

Sadly Judas was now firmly in the grip of the evil darkness that had invaded his soul.

3- Setting the Example

John 13:12–17 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? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 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. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus now begins His final instructions to the Disciples:

Just as Jesus, their Teacher and Lord has humbled Himself before them- They are to do the same for each other and to the believers to come that will follow the Disciples

While it is clear that this Ultimate act of humble servanthood will not be repeated by Jesus, it also cannot be repeated by any man- However-

The Model of humility and sacrifice that Jesus has shown these men can now be replicated by the Disciples.

V-15, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

And what better role model could we ask for, than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It will be up to them to carry this example forward-

That this self-sacrificing love should be the common characteristic of the Christian community going forward.

Jesus concludes with a well-known proverb of the time- Which is repeated across the Gospels- in Matt 10:24, Luke 6:40, and again in John 15: 20.

“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...”

No student should ever consider himself better than his teacher- Although any good teacher always wishes the best for their students- Even if it means the student succeeding in ways the teacher never could.

This is the finest example of real humility working both ways in a way that everyone comes out better for it.

Some final questions to ponder:

1- How does Jesus’ act of washing the disciples’ feet challenge our modern notions of leadership and power? In what ways can we incorporate this model of servant leadership in our daily lives and relationships?

2- How does the inclusion of Judas in the foot washing, despite Jesus knowing of his impending betrayal, demonstrate the extent of Christ’s love and patience? How might this challenge us in our relationships with others?

3- Jesus says, ‘You also ought to wash one another’s feet.’ Beyond literal interpretation, how can we apply this principle of mutual service and humility in our faith communities today?