The Revolution of Greatness

Introduction

John 13 is the beginning of the second half of John’s gospel: “Book of Signs” / “Book of Glory.” It is a shift from the public ministry of Jesus to the private conversation with his disciples. It is a shift from the “signs” Jesus performed in his ministry, to the the great sign: Christ Crucified.

Last supper. Matthew, Mark, and John tell us about the institution of the Lord’s Supper (“This is my body… my blood”). John also gives us that lesson earlier (John 6:52ff), but when he talks about that last supper, he fills in some other significant happenings and lessons which we read about in John 13. An eyewitness account of the last supper:

Read John 13:1-17

Turning Greatness Upside Down

This text is so familiar to us that it is sometimes hard to hear how radical and shocking it is.

The Roman empire was a world obsessed with status. (In fact, according to Luke, at some point a dispute broke out this night at the table about which of the disciples was the greatest, Lk 22:24-27)

Where you ranked in the social order was huge, and your clothing and actions made clear where you ranked (1st Class/coach). The lowest ranking: slave. But Jesus turns this upside down:

John 13:3 ESV

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,

When it comes to rank, Jesus knew where he stood. He is of unchallenged greatness. He defines what greatness looks like.

He is surrounded by disciples who are obsessed with it, but not understanding it. And they weren’t as great as they might think: within hours they would all abandon him, Peter would deny him, and Judas would betray him. Yet, Jesus love them… to the end. So, he:

John 13:4–5 ESV

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.

He put on the uniform of a slave.

He did the service that was typically only for gentile slaves. It was regarded as a degrading and lowly task. There were occasions when disciples/students would wash the feet of their masters (extreme devotion), but never the other way around.

We may not get the footwashing, but we get feet! Feet are nasty. You think they’re nasty today, you should have seen these feet. I’m pretty certain the disciples didn’t carry a pedicure kit (clippers, nail file, pumice stone, therapy foot moisturizer, heel softener, and sanding block). These were the the stinky, sweaty, dusty, sandals-with-no-socks kind of feet.

STORY: friend rubbing my brother’s feet when he was in the hospital

The master took the shocking posture of slave. Apparently it was silent until he came to Peter.

John 13:6–7 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.”

John 13:8–9 ESV

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!”

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.

Lesson #1

Jesus redefined greatness: humble service.

Jesus turns upside-down the measure and method of greatness.

We should stop talking about servant-leadership; it’s the only kind of leadership their is. —Pat Lencioni

Engage at home, work, neighborhood, church as a servant, doing whatever needs done. This is the way of love. It is the way of Jesus. Even with folks who frustrate you, wrong you, hurt you…

Blessed are you if you serve them.

Lesson #2

It’s not really about dirty feet. Everyone needs the washed by Jesus.

John 13:8 ESV

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.”

This humble act of service foreshadows what Jesus would do in just a few hours: carry a cross up a hill to be crucified as a sacrifice for our sins.

The love of Jesus that washed feet for those disciples is the same love that became a sacrifice for you. His blood is for your washing, and unless he washes you, you have no share with him in that life forever delivered from the the power and punishment of sin.

Read John’s vision from Rev 7:9-17, emphasis on verse 13.

“If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

Acts 22:16 ESV

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’