John 13:12

Prayer and Praise Reports:

1. Pray for the small group of believers in the country Pray that they find strength, wisdom and supernatural peace in God’s promises. 2. Pray for the displaced A new wave of refugees is expected to come from Afghanistan to many parts of the Middle East and the rest of the world. Pray for God’s protection and provision over them in their journeys. 3. Pray for the women Many women fear that Taliban rule means they will be stripped of opportunities for education. Women involved in education during the past years could also be at risk—pray for their protection. 4. Pray for the sick There is no certainty as to how the healthcare system will be able to sustain itself with the new Taliban government. Pray that the healthcare system will not collapse. 5. Pray that the country will not be a haven for extremists The Taliban government of 20 years ago are known enablers of extremist Islamic organizations. With their newfound control over Afghanistan, the country could be host to a new generation of terror groups.

Introduction:

Recap:

Last week we saw one of the remarkable things Jesus did during His earthly ministry. That was to wash the feet of His disciples.

Showing the humility of Jesus. That the one who enjoyed the unity of the Father and the Spirit, decided to redeem mankind and to demonstrate how to be the great within the kingdom of God.

We also see Peter respond in two extreme ways. Lord you will never wash my feet and Lord wash my head and hands as well.

A person must be bathed, meaning saved. A one time cleaning, but as we trudge through the world it is inevitable to be unaffected by the world. That is why Jesus tells us that we need to continually wash our feet.

How do we do that? Well through the reading and washing of the word. Reading and studying our bibles daily will help us remove the filth of the world from us.

vv 12-14) Follow His Example

[12] After washing all of the feet of the disciples, Jesus, then put on His outer garments and sat down to explain to them the spiritual meaning of what He had done.

What really blows me away is the fact that Judas was among those who Jesus washed their feet.

He opens the conversation by asking a question. Questions have the potential of being a powerful teaching method in the right hands. Asking questions is one of Jesus’ most effective methods of teaching.

“Do you understand what I have done to you?”

Jesus’ entire life was a lesson and example to the disciples. Here He felt it was important to specifically draw attention to the lesson of what He had just done. The washing of their feet meant something and Jesus would not leave the understanding of that up to chance.

[13-14] The disciples had acknowledged Jesus to their Teacher and Lord, and they were 100% right in doing so. But His example showed that the highest rank in the power structure of the kingdom is that of servant.

What is Jesus trying to teach them?

As their Teacher and Lord Jesus commanded them to show the same humble, sacrificial love to one another. After all if the Lord and Teacher had washed their feet, what excuse could they have for not washing one another’s feet?

Jesus is not establishing an ordinance for the church. It is a nice picture when we do wash someones feet, but He is not talking about literally washing each others feet. The meaning is spiritual.

Some try to fulfill this with foot washing ceremonies. Truly, if this is done with the right heart it can be a complete blessing, but Jesus didn’t refer to a ceremony here.

“Every year they hold a theatrical feet- washing, and when they have discharged this empty and bare ceremony they think they have done their duty finely and are then free to despise their brethren. But more, when they have washed twelve men’s feet they cruelly torture all Christ’s members and thus spit in the face of Christ Himself. This ceremonial comedy is nothing but a shameful mockery of Christ. At any rate, Christ does not enjoin an annual ceremony here, but tells us to be ready all through our life to wash the feet of our brethren.” -Calvin

What is the spiritual meaning?

Jesus is telling them that they should keep each other clean by constant fellowship over the Word. If one sees his brother growing cold or worldly, he should lovingly exhort him from the Bible.

This should mark our attitude and our action. This truth is not meant to be obeyed only by the disciples here in our passage but us as well.

“If there be any deed of kindness or love that we can do for the very meanest and most obscure of God’s people, we ought to be willing to do it- to be servants of God’s servants.” -Spurgeon

Anything we do for each other that washes away the grime of the world and the dust of defeat and discouragement is foot washing.

It is so easy for us to criticize those with dirty feet instead of washing them...

“In the world they criticize: this is the business of the public press, and it is very much the business of private circles. Hear how gossips say, ‘Do you see that spot? what a terrible walks that man must have had this morning: Look at his feet! He has been very much in the mire you can see, for there are the traces upon him.’ That is the world’s way. Christ’s way is very different. He says nothing, but takes the basin and begins to wash away the stain. Do not judge and condemn, but seek the restoration and the improvement of the erring.” -Spurgeon

There is something that needs to be said of the temperature of the water. Sometimes we try to wash someone with our water too hot- we are too fervent and zealous. While sometimes our water is too cold- we are cold and distant in heart to them. The temperature needs to be in the middle.

We should also remember that we cannot dry-clean someone else’s feet. Jesus washed us with:

Ephesians 5:26 ESV

that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

We should use the same “water” in ministering to others. Be mindful to use water and temperature appropriate water.

vv 15-17) Why we should follow His example

[15-16] The Lord had given the disciples an example, an object lesson of what they should do to one another spiritually.

What stops us from stooping to serve our brothers and sisters?

Pride or personal animosities are often the reasons that prevent us from serving our family, we should be mindful we are not great than our Master. He humbled Himself to wash those who were unworthy and unthankful, and He knew that one of them would even betray Him.

Would you minister in a lowly way to a man if you knew he was about to betray you for money?

Those who were sent (disciples) should not consider themselves too lofty to do anything that the One who sent them (Jesus) had done.

In our culture today there are too many of us who profess to be quite willing to trust in Jesus as the Cleanser of our souls who are not so willing to accept His Example as the pattern for our lives.

[17] The theory of being humble and being a servant isn’t worth very much. But the practice of being a servant pleases God, fulfills our calling, bring blessing and happiness.

“If there is a position in the church where the worker will have to toil hard and get no thanks for it, take it, and be pleased with it. If you can perform a service, which few will ever seek to do themselves, or appreciate when performed by others, yet occupy it with holy delight. Covet humble work, and when you get it be content to continue in it. There is no great rush after the lowest places, you will rob no one by seeking them.” -Spurgeon

vv 18-20) The betrayer exposed

[18] When Jesus chooses a person He knows them.

Why do you suppose He tells His disciples that?

It would be important for the disciples to know that Jesus wasn’t surprised by the betrayal that would soon happen.

Jesus here quotes:

Psalm 41:9 ESV

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

Judas was one who had eaten his meals with the Lord for three years now, and yet has lifted up his heel against Him.- That is an expression indicating that he betrayed the Lord.

[19] The purpose of telling them all of this is to show yet again that Jesus was who He said He was. It was also given to them so that the faithful disciples would remain confident in Him.

The italicized word He at the end of the verse can be omitted making it, “you may believe that I AM.”

[20] Jesus reminded all His disciples- the faithful ones and Judas- that His work was not finished. Judas would not win; the work of Jesus would continue and they would be sent as His representatives. He also wanted Judas to know that rejecting Him meant rejecting the God who sent Jesus.

vv 21-26) Jesus identifies Judas

[21-22] The knowledge that one of His disciples would betray Him caused the Lord to be deeply troubled.

Jesus wasn’t unfeeling or emotionally detached from the events surrounding His passion. He truly loved Judas, and was troubled for Judas’ sake too.

It seems that Jesus was here giving the betrayer a final opportunity to abandon His evil plan. Without exposing him directly, the Lord revealed His knowledge that one of the twelve would betray Him. That even didn’t change the traitor’s mind.

The rest of the disciples did not suspect Judas either. They were surprised that one of their number would do such a thing and puzzled as to who he could be.

It seems like they wondered if Jesus meant some kind of accidental, unintended betrayal, one that any of them might commit.

Matthew 26:22 ESV

And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”

[23] John refers to himself with this phrase, “whom Jesus loved” four times in this Gospel. And each time connected with the cross in some way.

Here in the upper room:

John 13:23 ESV

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side,

At the cross of Jesus:

John 19:26 ESV

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”

At the empty tomb:

John 20:2 ESV

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

With the risen Jesus at the Sea of Galilee:

John 21:20 ESV

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”

“We know that it must have been John, for many reasons; but still does not say so. He hides behind the love of Jesus, which proves that John gloried in the love of Christ, but did not boast of it egoistically.” - Spurgeon

[24-25] Peter motioned to John rather than speaking audibly. Perhaps by nodding his head, he asked John to find our the name of the betrayer. He probably did this out of a desire to take preventative action.

You see a special or ceremonial meal like this they would lay on their stomachs around the U-shaped table, leaning on their left elbow and eating with their right hand. It seems that from Johns position next to Jesus, he could lean back and be close enough to speak quietly to Jesus and still be heard.

A disciple sat at each side of Jesus. “One of them was John the divine and the other was Judas the devil. One of them was the seer of the Apocalypse, the other was the son of perdition.” - Spurgeon

The place of honor was to the left of, and thus slightly behind the principal person. The second place was to his right, and the guest there would have his head on the breast of the host. It is clear that the second position was occupied by John.

[26] The giving of the dipped bread designated special honor, something like a toast at a banquet. It was a mark of courtesy and esteem.

It seems likely that Judas was in that highly esteemed spot. From Matthew’s account it seems clear that Jesus could speak to him without being overheard by the others:

Matthew 26:25 ESV

Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Earlier at this dinner, the washing of the feet displayed a degree of sacrificial love and service not seen before the cross. Now, the giving of the dipped bread to Judas showed the height of love for enemies, previous to the cross.

Jesus identified the betrayer to John, and seemingly to none of the other disciples. John did not stop or oppose Judas and he did not explain why. Perhaps he did not immediately grasp what Jesus said or found it so shocking that it momentarily confused him.

vv 27-30) The departure

[27]It was already in the heart of Judas to betray Jesus:

John 13:2 ESV

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

Yet when Judas rejected the love and favor of Jesus it broke some barrier within him and Satan entered him.

Knowing now the betrayer was fully determined, the Lord told him to do it quickly. Obviously, He was not encouraging him to do evil but simply expressing to get the ball rolling.

[28-29] These verses confirmed that the pervious conversation between Jesus and John about the bread was not heard by the other disciples. They still didn’t know that Judas was about to betray their Lord.

Some thought that Jesus had simply told Judas to go quickly and buy something for the feast, or because Judas was the treasurer, that the Savior had instructed him to make a donation to the poor.

[30] Judas recieved the piece of break as a token of special favor, and then left the company of the Lord and of the other disciples. The Scriptures add the meaningful words and it was night.

It wasn’t only night in a literal sense, but it was night spiritually for Judas- a night of gloom and remorse that would never end. It was always night when men turn their backs on the Savior.

[The Last Battle]

Perhaps the events of earlier at the dinner made Judas decide that he didn’t want anything to do with a foot-washing Messiah, with a Messiah who would perform such a humble act.

Judas shows us that fallen man needs more than an example and even more than good teaching. Judas had the best example and the greatest Teacher, and was still lost.

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.