Foot Washing 2

Text

John 13 NIV84

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 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. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

John 13:1–17 NIV84

1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John 13

John 13:1-20

What did Jesus Know?

I just love… this scripture… tells where Jesus is coming from when He washes feet...

time for Him to return to the Father (33 years)

Father’s will was in play

Judas already had the enemies heart

Jesus was not offended by this… Judas had His feet washed too

Jesus didn’t die just for the church but for the world… its up to each one to receive Him

the Father had put all things under His power

Jesus already had power to do anything! Listen to this carefully!

where He was from and where He was going… the Father

He knew the glory the Father had given Him and He has never fallen short of it

What Time was It?

Just before Passover

Passover began with the Meal.

it is right before the meal and the meal is already being served

it is time! The greatest time in history! It is the beginning of God getting His kids back by His own right arm.

Psalm 44:3 NIV84

3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.

this word is speaking of the original passover where they were brought out of Egypt and into a promised land of their own, the passover was not just the death but the resultant life!

What Does Jesus DO?

Then Jesus shows them the full extent of His love… vs 1 (see NASB below) This foot washing is a prophetic sign and a command to love…

(see NASB below)

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 13

having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 13

having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end

Got up from the meal

Will you get up from your meal? The church can have communion all day long but if we will not get up from the meal to wash one another feet we miss the point

removed His outer clothing… the robes of a beloved son

Does it really say that Jesus had white robes? No, I don’t think so. His seamless tunic was prophetic in that it had no beginning and no end but colour is not mentioned that I know of.

but at the transfiguration and the resurrection we see how Father sees Him… the ultimate multicolour robe!

Matthew 17:2 NIV84

2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

Matthew 28:3 NIV84

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

like David removing robes, Jesus is laying down His position and name to serve another…

David did it in deference to the Lord of Glory

Jesus did it in deference to the lowest servant, and think about how He paid for the statement… “if you've done it to the least of these, you've done it unto me.”

puts on the towel, the clothes of a servant, taking on the task of caring for another… this in not something the chief priests were used to! But Jesus the great High priest is showing us how to be a good priest.

you are all priests, a kingdom of them,

He pours out water… a type or foreshadow of Holy Spirit!

not only that He would pour out the Holy Spirit but also that we would only be washing feet if we have the water of life

washes their feet… the dirt of the streets

Jerusalem had open sewers at that time and garbage was in the streets, wash water was thrown out the windows etc.

Mackinac Island - streets were smelly, dodging meadow muffins and dog mines… and puddles of horse urine

the dirt Jesus was washing was not the nice feet of one just recently bathed

washing feet for us is not just the nice looking, wealthy, “normal” people… it is all who will receive...

dried their feet on His clothes… including Judas the betrayer!!! His clothes, are marked by the feet of those He serves

Jesus then puts His clothes back on. He is back in the teacher mode and begins to teach…

Peter Apalled

Peters Question… You’re going to wash my feet? What? You the Lord who will rule the nations, you the one who will save your people…?

this should not be. The King doesn’t wash feet. We just figured out that you are the King. You are going to take down these Roman legions and the hardship and the Jews will again be the rulers of the lands...

this is so beneath what we know as a King, leader, even the Son of God!

Peter’s Objection… you will NEVER wash my feet!!!!

This rash Peter, this out spoken Peter is saying what all the disciples are thinking but afraid to say…

Never… will the King of Glory wash my feet… never will my King and the one who has done these miracles wash my feet…

Jesus’ Answer

If not… you will have no part with me!

part of what… inheritance!

Ephesians 3:6 NIV84

6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:17 NIV84

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

But if you are not washed, you are not an heir!

Here is the Crux of the Matter

Jesus is laying out a picture that has several layers which the main one is the picture we have always seen… the greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all.

a greater is serving a lessor and becoming a greater, greater.

the mentor serves the mentee, the teacher serves the student, the elders serve the younger, the Kings serves the whole country,

in a family the children are taking out the garbage and doing the dishes… it is them being trained for life. To them it feels like slave labour but to the parents it is hard work to train the kids to work. Lazy parents don’t train their kids and the result is generations of incapable kids who then try to raise their own kids. And they are appalled at those who train their kids.

its like Mr Miagi who is teaching Daniel-sen. Wax on, wax off… Daniel thinks he is washing cars and Mr Miagi is strengthening his body for the movements of Karate but he is also teaching him the resolve that you need not fight. The fighting spirit inside of Daniel is being broken. Character must be brought in for a teacher to be successful.

Here Jesus is teaching His disciples that greatness looks like serving.

But the secondary message of this...

Peter has to submit to the washing. Submission is a need also revealed here. It becomes an issue of honour vs pride.

Peter thinks he knows the way but Jesus sharply rebukes his thoughts.

Daniel was about to quit Mr Miagi’s teaching till Mr Miagi showed him he was learning exactly what he wanted to learn… how to defend himself. Not how to reap vengeance.

Peter think’s Jesus os going to be a big ruler and he will be Jesus right hand and Jesus is breaking the news… Peter, you will have to sidestep self and be washed of all that you now think so that you can serve like I am serving.

Jesus had been washing them already for three years and they didn’t know it. By the way… “Peter you are already clean, you just need me to wash your feet.”

In other words, you have already received and believed but you have been walking the streets of Jerusalem and now you need your dirty feet washed… this is a prophetic sign.

you are clean but not all of you… not Judas… he has already been defiled by the seed of satan.

John 13:18–19 NIV84

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ 19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.

Literally – you will believe that I AM. When? When this thing is done… the son of man is lifted up serving the world with His life.

WOW!

Peter will fail. Jesus point this out. Why? Because the true washing He is going to do with the cross has not yet been done. Are you ready… Peter? I’m going to wash you fully.

Jesus tells that someone will betray Him. Judas. He tells that Peter will deny Him.

John 13:18 NIV84

18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers… gifts to the church… are a company of foot washers for the church to grow and be perfected.

The church is to be perfected for the work of the ministry… foot washers of the world… we are a foot washing army!

What has all this to do with us today?