Following the Example of Jesus

Introduction

Last week, we looked at the last teaching time that Jesus did for the “crowds.” Today, we come to the 13th chapter of the book of John, and we will begin our look at what is referred to as “the Upper Room Discourse.” It includes chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17.

J. Vernon McGee tells us, “There are eighty-nine chapters in the four Gospels. Four of these chapters cover the first thirty years of the life of Jesus and eighty-five chapters the last three years of His life. Of these eighty-five chapters, twenty-seven deal with the last eight days of His life. So about one-third of the gospel records deal with the last few days and place the emphasis on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

In these five chapters we get a feel for Jesus’ heart and His desire to adequately prepare them for what is about to happen.

If you have your Bibles, and I hope that you do, turn with me to the thirteenth chapter of the book of John and we’ll begin reading with verse 1.

Another Time Marker

John 13:1 NIV

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

The first time marker tells us that the following events are taking place just before the Passover Festival.

The second time marker tells us that Jesus knew the time had finally come for him to leave this world and go back to his Father.

The third statement is less than a time marker and more of a statement. We are told that Jesus loved his own who were in the “world” (Gk. cosmos). This word is used 40 times in chapters 13-17 and in this case refers to the mass of lost humanity out of which Jesus called his disciples.

Then we are told that he loved them to the end. Some have suggested that this means that he loved his disciples all the way to the end of his life. This doesn’t seem to fit because Jesus knew he was returning to the Father and that his love for his followers would also continue. Loved them to the end seems to suggested that Jesus loved the disciples to utmost (or to completion {completion of God’s plan}).

John 13:2 NIV

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

Fourth time marker is that the evening meal was in progress. Jesus and the disciples were gathered around the table prepared to eat.

The fifth time marker tells us that the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. Judas already had a plan and was simply waiting for the right moment to execute the plan.

John 13:3 NIV

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

Jesus deals with his disciples from a position of knowledge and strength.

He knew that the Father had put everything under his (Jesus’) power.

Jesus knew that he had come from God (Phil. 2:5-12).

And Jesus knew he was in the process of returning to the Father.

Washing the Disciples’ Feet

John 13:4 NIV

so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Jesus got up from the table (v. 4a).

Went back and took off his outer robe and laid it aside. This was a visual picture of what Jesus did when he came into this world. He laid aside his royal cloak, and put on the mantel of humanity (cf. Phil. 2:6-7) (v. 4b).

Next he wraps a towel around himself and assumes the physical position of a servant (cf. Phil. 2:7) (v. 4c).

John 13:5 NIV

After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus then filled a basin with water (v. 5a). This should have been the job of a servant, or of the lowest person of importance in the group, but here we see the highest person in the group doing the servant’s job.

Jesus moves to the disciples and begins to wash their feet, and then dries them with the towel that is wrapped around his waist (v. 5b).

Peter’s Objection

John 13:6 NIV

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

When Jesus came to Peter, Peter asked him a kind of crazy question, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” It is crazy because it is a “duh” question (v. 6). Think about it, Jesus is going down the line of disciples and one-by-one He washes each of their feet. It is pretty clear what what happening, and there should have been no doubt in Peter’s mind about what Jesus was going to do when He reached Peter.

Why did Jesus’ actions strike such a nerve in Peter. Although the passage doesn’t answer this question, I think there may be a couple of reasons.

Peter may have felt guilty. He may have been wishing he had taken the towel and washbasin and washed their feet.

Peter may have been confused by the upset in the customary order. Normally it would have been the lowest person—the lowest servant—who had the job of washing the guests’ feet—NOT the teacher.

John 13:7 NIV

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Jesus tells Peter that he has no idea exactly what Jesus is demonstrating, or what Jesus is doing (v. 7a).

But at some point in time, Peter will understand exactly what Jesus did for them (v. 7b).

John 13:8 NIV

“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Still, Peter strongly objects! He tells Jesus that He will never be allowed to wash Peter’s feet (v. 8a)! The strength with which Peter makes this statement is clear in the Greek, but difficult in the English text. From Peter’s perspective he could NEVER allow Jesus to preform such a degrading task on him.

Jesus’ Response

Unless I wash you, you have NO part with me (v. 8b). Some denominations see this tied to “baptism.” Thus, unless you are baptized, you have no part in me. This seems inconsistent with the rest of the Scripture (cf. Lk 23:39-43; Eph 2:8-9). In the context, it seems that Jesus was saying that unless Peter experienced the cleansing—the forgiveness of sin—provided by Jesus, Peter could/would have no part in Jesus.

Peter Overreacts!

John 13:9 NIV

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

In true fashion for Peter, he overreacts! He tells Jesus not to stop with his feet, but to also wash his hands and head—in other words wash everything!

Jesus’ Response

John 13:10 NIV

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”

Jesus begins to differentiate between two kinds of cleaning. There is a cleansing that leads to “justification.” It puts us into a right relationship with God the Father by forgiving our sins—past, present, and future. Jesus uses the idea of a person having a full bath (v. 10a).

But when a Christian sins after he has been justified, he needs some “spot cleaning” or a “foot washing” (cf. 1 Jn. 1:9) (v. 10b).

There is a problem within the ranks of the disciples. While most of them were “clean” (justified), not all of them were in that category (v. 10c).

John 13:11 NIV

For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

John gives us a side note about Jesus’ knowledge—He knew that Judas was going to betray Him, thus, not all of them were clean (v. 11).

John 13:12 NIV

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.

When Jesus had washed all the disciples’ feet, He went back and put his robe on, and returned to his seat (v. 12a).

He then askes the disciples if they understand the significance of what He had just done (v. 12b).

John 13:13 NIV

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.

Knowing that they probably did not get it, He goes on to explain it to them (v. 13a).

That called him “Teacher” and they call him “Lord” (Gk. Lord, master, ruler, or owner) and that exactly who Jesus is! (v. 13b).

NOTE: of the two terms used here, Lord is a much higher position than Teacher. 3

John 13:14 NIV

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

To explain the significance of what Jesus did, he now reverses the titles. He begins with the more important title--Master, Owner, Ruler, Lord (v. 14a).

Since their Master has done this for them, they should do it for each other (v. 14b).

NOTE: There has been a lot of discussion about how Jesus’ example should be interpreted.

It could be interpreted that we should practice footwashing on a regular basis. While this is a good, literal interpretation, I don’t think it is the best.

Since Jesus appears to be talking about forgiveness of sin in the earlier verses, perhaps we who have been forgiven of much should forgive others of much (cf. Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” ; Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”).

Since Jesus was willing to serve His disciples in the most menial manner, we too ought to serve our brothers and sisters in the most menial tasks. The emphasis is that there is nothing too far below us to do, no matter what our title! (cf. Phil 2:5-11). According to Philippians 2, Jesus showed us the full extent of His love for us by becoming a lowly servant, so we should also show the full extent of our love for others by how we serve them.

From my point of view, I think the third interpretation is the best, because it actually encompasses both of the other interpretations.

John 13:15 NIV

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Jesus repeats his point by tell them that He just gave them an example of how they should live their lives (v. 15a).

Each of us should follow Jesus’ example, by living our lives like He lived His (v. 15b).

John 13:16 NIV

Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Jesus repeats this idea a third time (cf. 14-15). He reminds us that no servant is greater than their master (v. 16a).

No messenger is greater than the one who sent them to give the message (v. 16b).

The Promise

John 13:17 NIV

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

God’s blessing comes when we do these things! (cf. Luke 11:28 “He replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'” ; James 1:25 “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” ).

Living obedient to the Lord God always leads to us experiencing His blessings. Yet we must understand that God’s blessing may not be how we think about blessings!

So What?

If Jesus, the great Teacher was willing to assume the lowest position and serve the disciples by washing their feet; shouldn’t we serve one another?

And if Jesus, the Lord, Master, Owner or our lives was willing to assume the lowest of positions and serve His disciples by washing their feet; shouldn’t we serve one another?

Learn the lesson in this passage. When we get our identity and reason for existing from Jesus, we will stop depending on other people for our acceptance, prestige, and purpose and get all of those things from our relationship with Jesus. When this happens we can serve people in love—not for what we can get, but for what we can give!

And when we live our lives serving like that we are promised that God will bless us—maybe not the way we define blessing, but we will be truly bless by God.