SF075 - HAVING LOVED HE LOVED (John 13 1-11)
Having Loved…He Loved
June 9, 2002
John 13:1-11
Introduction
“John 13 begins a new section, a section clearly distinguished and separated from what has gone before. At the beginning of the Gospel, two things were stated in connection with the outcome of Christ’s mission and ministry: the nation, as such, “received him not”: this has been fully demonstrated, especially in chapters 5 to 12; second, those who did “receive him” were to be brought into the place of children of God. In chapters 13 to 17, we see Christ alone with His own, separated from the world, telling them of their peculiar portion and privileges.
At the close of Christ’s public ministry, we are told “He departed and did hide himself from them”; that is, from the nation (John 12:36). In 13 to 17, we find the Savior, in most intimate fellowship with His disciples, revealing to them the wondrous place which they had in His love, and how that love would be continually exercised on their behalf now that He was about to leave them and go to the Father.”[1]
In chapters 13-17, Jesus writes what amounts to a love letter to His bride, the church. In the text before us, we see Christ declaring His love for “His own” as well as demonstrating His love for them.
1A. Christ Declares His Love For His People (13:1)
Who does Jesus love?
James Boice writes, “These chapters are not for everyone. They are for the Lord’s people only. Just like a husband would only be expected to write love letters to his wife, in the same way Jesus would express His love only to His bride.”[2]
Ø Indeed Boice is right, Jesus is writing only to His redeemed people here.
Ø Who are Christ’s own?
The ones the Father has given to Him (John 6:37, 44).
Those for whom Christ was about to die (John 10:11, 15).
They are those who are born of God (John 1:13).
They are those to whom Christ has given eternal life (John 10:28-29).
What is the world?
Ø The Greek word translated world here is kosmos. This word is used three ways in Scripture.
Kosmos is used to describe the nature world (John 1:9, 10).
Kosmos can be used to refer to the human race in general (John 3:16-17).
Kosmos is used here to refer to the sinful “world system” that is opposed to God and His people (John 3:1; 1:1-10; 15:18-21; 17:14).
Therefore “in the first sense, Christians are to receive the world and be thankful for it, for it is God’s gift. In the second sense, they are to love the world and seek to evangelize it, for God love the human race. In the third sense, however, believers in Christ are to reject the world and then by God’s grace also order their lives according to an entirely different set of rules.”[3]
Why does God love us?
Ø The Scripture never offers any definitive reason. Except to say…
Romans 5:6-8 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Deuteronomy 7:7-8 The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Ø The reason God loves us is simply because He has chosen to.
How long did He love them?
Ø “To the end” of Jesus earthly life.
Ø “To the end” of their lives.
Ø “To the very end,” that is forever, in Greek it is the word telos which means perfection. He loves us perfectly.
2A. Christ Demonstrates His Love For His People (13:2-11)
1B. The setting (13:2)
The occasion
Ø Jesus and His twelve disciples had gathered to partake of the Passover meal.
Ø Judas who was controlled by Satan had already determined in his heart to betray the Lord.
The activity
Ø The task of washing feet was the responsibility of a household slave.
Ø It was needed because in that culture you would recline for the meal with the sandaled feet nearby.
2B. The significance (13:3)
Jesus realized that all that would happen was under the control of the Father and because He was the Son of God under His own divine control. Yet, He permitted it to take place.
3B. The symbolism (13:4-5)
Jesus is pictured as the servant of His people.
The water represents the word of God.
Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.
Ephesians 5:25-26 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
4B. The application (13:6-11)
For the believer (13:6-10a)
Ø Simon Peter’s confusion (13:6-8)
Peter could not understand what Jesus was doing. Jesus gently rebukes him for his ignorance.
Ø Simon Peter’s confession (13:9)
Ø Jesus’ command (13:10a)
“The distinction which our Lord here drew is of vital importance, ‘he that is washed,’ better, ‘he who has been bathed,’ that is, his whole person cleansed: ‘needeth not save to wash his feet,’ then is he completely fit for communion with the Lord. There is a washing which believers have in Christ that needs not to be ever repeated. In Him there is to be found a cleansing which is never lost. ‘By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are set apart’ (Hebrews 10:14). The believer has been purged from all sin and made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12). This purging needs no repetition.
But side by side with this blessed truth of a bathing in Christ which needs not, and cannot be, repeated, stands another truth of great practical importance: ‘He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.’ There is a partial cleansing which the believer still needs, a daily washing to counteract the defiling effects of this world. Our daily contact with the evil all around causes the dust of defilement to settle upon us so that the mirror of our conscience is dimmed and the spiritual affections of our heart are dulled.”[4]
For the betrayer (13:10b-11)
Judas did not loose his salvation; he proved that he was never saved. Pink is correct when he writes, “it was not a sheep of Christ becoming unclean, but of a dog returning to his vomit (2 Peter 2:22).”[5]
Application
This lesson provides a good opportunity for you to check out your relationship with the Lord.
1. Are you one of “His?”
2. Are you trusting in Him alone for your salvation?
3. Are you placing your life in His hands daily for cleansing?
4. Are you consistently studying and applying the “water of the Word” to your life?
Preparing for Next Week
1. Read John 13:12-20.
2. What is the typical teaching of verse 12?
3. What is the important lesson on reverence in verse 13?
4. How are we to obey, verses 14, 15?
5. What is the thought suggested by verse 16 coming right after verses 14, 15?
6. What lessons are to be learned from verse 17?
7. What is the meaning of verse 19?
8. What blessed truth is expressed in verse 20?
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[1] Pink, Arthur W., Exposition of the Gospel of John, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975), 699.
[2] Boice, James M., The Gospel of John, Volume 4, Peace in Storm, John 13-17, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985), 996.
[3] Boice, 998.
[4] Pink, 712-13.
[5] Pink, 714.