HUMBLE SERVANT

JOHN 13:1-17

John 13:1–17

True leadership is servant-leadership. Have you ever noticed a boss fulfilling a “small” task when no one else was there to do it? That’s servant-leadership. Have you ever noticed a boss allowing that task to go unfulfilled because no one was there to do it, when he or she very well could have done it? The second example is human nature. We like to take the easiest road possible. While delegating is absolutely necessary for any leader, there comes a time when every leader needs to perform tasks that are on the bottom of everyone’s list. Christ also got this point across by explaining to his disciples, as they were arguing about who was going to be great in God’s kingdom, that true leadership is not to be like the Roman leaders they’re used to seeing, who lord over people. He teaches them that true leadership is servant-leadership, and only those who serve will be great. The most humbling lesson that Jesus demonstrates is washing the feet of the one who has and will betray him.

Let us Pray

MAIN IDEA: Like us, the disciples lived in a society that had rebelled against God. Like us, they learned more quickly from modeling and demonstration than by being told what was right. So on that final night before his death, Jesus exemplified love, explained it, and then exhorted his disciples to follow his example. How patient he was with Judas, how humble with these proud disciples! In contrast, Peter acted too “spiritual” to allow the Lord to wash his feet, but not too spiritual to command the Son of God!

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. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 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, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 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.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 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.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 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? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 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. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

I. LOVE EXEMPLIFIED (13:1-5)

A. Passover—v. 1. It was time for Christ to die, and leave this world. He loved His people until the end. It was at the time of the Jewish Passover Feast.

Just like death passed over Israel in Egypt – death passes over us when we accept Christ as our Messiah, our Savior

B. Plan—v. 2. Satan’s plan to betray Christ was about to take place. Satan would work through Judas, one of the disciples. Satan often works through man to destroy God’s work.

Satan doesn’t like doing the dirty work – he convinces us to do it for him and the condemns us for doing so.

Jesus in His love and mercy and grace – give Judas every opportunity to change his mind and not go through

C. Peace—v. 3. Though Christ was facing death, He was at peace, knowing he was doing God’s will. Doing God’s will always brings peace to mankind.

D. Personality—vv. 4–5. Note Christ’s humility—washing the feet of the disciples. Through this custom of the day, Christ was showing His humility.

Patience with Judas

Service to disciples

Actions speak louder than words

Look at the illustration on the front cover

In Philippians 2:6-7 we read “who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness”

Love is not an emotion as much as it is an attitude, and an attitude that results in action. We have seen Love Exemplified and that leads us to Love Explained.

II. LOVE EXPLAINED (13:6-11)

Pride can cause us to not understand the Will of God

We can see the pride Peter had

A. Pride—vv. 6–7. Peter didn’t want Christ to wash his feet. He didn’t know he would deny Christ three times. Christ would later forgive Peter for his denial.

B. Partakers—v. 8. If Christ didn’t wash Peter’s feet, he could not be a part of Christ. IF HE DOESN’T CLEANSE US, WE CAN HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.

C. Plea—v. 9. Peter asked that Christ wash his whole body.

Washing here is symbolic of cleansing of sin

(refer to BC easter comic)

D. Purity—v. 10. Peter was cleansed. Christ says, “Not all are cleansed,” meaning Judas, who would betray Him.

E. Prediction—v. 11. Christ knew that Judas would betray Him. Keep in mind—Judas was with Christ for three years.

Love Explained leads to Love Exhorted. Perhaps there exists no act more menial than washing another’s feet, but nothing is beneath a disciple. Did the Savior intend to initiate an ordinance here? Some believe the command to wash the feet of others must be taken literally. But Jesus called us to acts of humble service for other Christians and, as Harry Ironside used to say, “When washing each other’s feet, we should be careful of the temperature of the water.”

III. LOVE EXHORTED (13:12-17)

A. Practice—vv. 12–14. Christ practiced humility. He wants us to do the same. Not literally wash men’s feet, but to be humble. Don’t allow pride to destroy you.

B. Practice—v. 15. Practice the teachings of Christ. As we read the Bible, we will know CHRIST’S TEACHINGS.

There is a song – they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love

Agape love is the ultimate indicator of your identification as a little Christ.

C. Personality—v. 16. Christ was not above God. He was equal with God, but not greater than God.

D. Promise—v. 17. “You know these things—now do them! That is the path of blessing”— If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. This is the secret to success—knowing and doing God’s teachings.

So as we conclude -

PRINCIPLES

• We cannot identify God’s elect; anyone can look like a disciple.

• Jesus was in charge of the schedule leading to the cross.

• Christians glorify God by loving one another.

APPLICATIONS

• Understand what true love is and how it works.

• Consider ways to put into practice the Christlike behavior of loving to the full extent.

• Believe, value, and practice verse 17: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Doing God’s Will always brings peace – but peace doesn’t equate to easy

Remember we are not called to judge – we do not know where a man’s heart lies, but we are called to love – Do you AGAPE people – do others know you are a little Christ by your words, actions and how you treat and talk about others?

Do you allow yourself to be humbled and serve like Christ?

Do you feel blessed when you do serve with a humble heart?

What areas of your heart do you need to chisel away pride and selfishness to accept God’s call to be humble and serve?