"I AM" the Lord and Master - Part 2
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Introduction
Introduction
So we ended last week talking about how the feet represent our spiritual walk. We also noted that the water represented God’s Word. In doing so, we noted that we need a daily cleansing from God’s Word each day as we seek to walk spiritually with the Lord.
This evening, we want to pick up from there. We are going to start with verse 12 this evening and read down to verse 20.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
As we begin this next section, I want to recall your attention to what had just taken place. Look again at verses 4 and 5.
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
And remember that Peter objected to Christ washing his feet to which Christ repied.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
In His reply, Christ indicated that there is a double washing for every believer. There is the cleansing that cleanses the whole body and there is the cleansing that cleanses just the feet. The cleansing of the whole body happens at the time of salvation and is only needed once. A great verse for this is found in 1 Corinthians 6.
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Another great verse is...
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
However, all of us need a daily cleansing as already mentioned for a daily spiritual walk.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Now, as we consider Christ’s washing of the disciples feet, we know that this act was customary in Christ’s day.
Arthur W. Pink in his commentary on this passage wrote...
The distinction between the bathing of an entire body and the washing of the feet was aptly illustrated by the ancient custom of bathers. A person returning from the public baths, was, of course, dean, and needed not to be re-bathed. But wearing only sandals, which covered but part of the feet, he quickly needed the foot-bath to cleanse himself from the dust of travel encountered on his way from the baths to his home. Even today bathers in the sea are often seen going to their dressing room with a pail of water to cleanse their soiled feet. This may be regarded as a parable of the spiritual life. Believers were bathed, completely cleansed, at the new birth. The “dressing-room” is Heaven, where we shall be robed in white raiment and garments of glory. But the pail of water is needed for our present use in connection with the daily walk.
As we move into the second section, the Lord Jesus Christ now makes practical application of what He has just done for them.
Note verse 12 which say,
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Note that He has finished washing their feet. Now, with great calmness and deliberation, He takes up His garments and sits down again. By the way, notice the phrase, “after he had washed their feet.” Whose feet? The feet of all twelve disciples. He even washed the feet of Judas Iscariot. What an act of kindness and mercy to even the one who would betray Him!
Now, note the question posed by Christ.
He says to them “Know ye what I have done to you?”
He says to them “Know ye what I have done to you?”
What had Christ just done? By washing their feet, He displayed great humility. He also demonstrated that fact that not only were they saved, but He showed great concern for their daily walk and fellowship with Him. Now, by asking the question, Christ sought to teach them. His actions led then to His teaching. The great thing about God, His Word, and His teaching is that He not only shows us His character, but then, He follows those demonstrations with His own personal teaching about His character and His desire for us.
This question posed by Christ is a question we should often ask of our selves. Each time we read God’s Word it would do us much good to ask of ourselves if we know what He has done for us. We should always look at God’s work in the light of His Word. As we do, we should be seeking the guidance of His Spirit. In doing so, we are able, generally speaking, to discern His purpose for our lives.
Now look at verse 13.
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
This is our key verse. Remember we are studying the “I AM” sayings of Christ. Here Christ says if I may “I am Master and Lord.”
This is a key statement especially in the context of what has just taken place. Even though Christ has exhibited great humility and taken on the task of a servant, immediately, Christ reminds us of His authority. He is still “Master and Lord.”
Now note that who were the ones who called Him “Master and Lord?” Note the phrase “Ye call me...” The disciples were the ones who called Him “Master and Lord.” The word “call” means “to address.” Thus, they were the ones who address Him as “Master and Lord” and rightfully so. By doing so, they were admitting that Christ was the incarnate Son of God. For that reason, Christ say “ye say well.”
This is a good place to think about how we should address the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a good place to think about how we should address the Lord Jesus Christ.
We live in a day and age where the respect for the Lord’s name had greatly diminished even in most churches. May I submit to you this evening that He is more than just “Jesus of Nazareth.” He is the Lord of glory. And, surely, we should recognize and own the dignity and majesty of His person. To the unsaved, He may be “The Nazarene” or simply “Jesus.” However, to us who know Him personally and have experience His mercy and grace, we ought to gladly confess Him as “The Lord Jesus Christ.”
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Here is another point.
Note that Christ said “Ye call me Master and Lord; and YE SAY WELL; for so I am.”
Note that Christ said “Ye call me Master and Lord; and YE SAY WELL; for so I am.”
It is well for us to call Him “Master and Lord.” Never do we find the apostles addressing Christ simply as “Jesus” while He was with them on earth. Note these passages where the Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples to address Him as “Master and Lord”
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
Did they heed the lesson taught by Christ?
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
I believe the lesson for us is this. We must as His followers be careful how we speak of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not be flippant, careless, and irreverent when speaking of God’s blessed Son. Let us gladly speak of our Savior as “Lord.”
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Now, let’s take a minute to think about the Lord Jesus Christ as “Lord and Master”
Now, let’s take a minute to think about the Lord Jesus Christ as “Lord and Master”
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
If you were part of our study this past Sunday night, we covered this word “Master.” You may recall that “Master” in the original Greek language simply meant “teacher.” Teachers teach as students believe and learn from them. Lord, however, is different. Lords are to be obeyed. Now remember the Lord Jesus Christ follows this with verse 16.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Thus, the Lord Jesus is tying what He is teaching to the action that He had just performed.
The order in which He gives His titles are important. First, these men, the disciples, learned by sitting at the feet of the Master (teacher). Then, as they listened and learned, they came to know Him as their “Lord.” However, Christ reverses the order here. He says “If I then, your LORD and MASTER.” Why did He reverse the order? Remember salvation comes by “hearing the word of God.”
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
However, after salvation, our responsibility is to daily surrender to Him as Lord bowing to His authority, submitting to His yoke, and as we do, He teaches us.
