"I Am" the Lord and Master - Part 3
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Introduction
Introduction
Tonight we are right back into our study of the “I Am” Sayings of Christ. We are in John 13. Here we have already noted that Christ said this.
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Last week, we spent our time focusing Christ as “Master and Lord.” We then concluded that we, as His followers, have a responsibility to learn from Him as our Master aka Teacher. We also have a responsibility to daily surrender to Him as Lord. And, if you remember, Christ reversed the order in verse 14.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
This is significant in that as we submit to His authority He then is able to teach us as Master.
Now, tonight, there is much more to learn from this story. So, we are to going to wrap by looking at verses 12-17 one last time. As we do, we are going to examine the command by Christ to wash one another’s feet and then see Christ emphasize two very important principles. So, let’s get started!
The Command to Wash One Another’s Feet
The Command to Wash One Another’s Feet
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
As we examine this command, I want to begin with this point.
The Command was Not a Literal Command of Washing Feet
The Command was Not a Literal Command of Washing Feet
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Some have taken this to be a literal command to actually wash the feet of other fellow believers. In fact, there are some who have elevated Christ’s instruction to the same level as other ordinances such as baptism and the receiving of the Lord’s table. However, we, here at Calvary Baptist, do not take that same way of thinking. And, I will give you support for our position.
If you look at the entirety of all Christ did as well as taught in this story, you will find the following.
The Lord said to Peter in John 13:7 “7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.” Certainly Peter knew that his feet had been literally washed. That was obvious. However, Christ indicated that Peter would know and understand the full meaning afterwards.
Furthermore, Christ also said to Peter in John 13:8 “8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” We would contend that certainty that there are multitudes of believers that have part with Christ who have never practiced foot-washing as an ordinance. Thus, the meaning of “thou hast no part with me” in conjunction with washing must mean something different than a literal foot washing.
Later, Christ says to the entire group in John 13:10 “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.” Remember Jesus also washed Judas’ feet. If Christ were teaching a literal foot washing then Judas would not have been part of Christ’s act.
Then there is the question that Christ posed to them in John 13:12 “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?” His question clearly indicates that there was spiritual meaning to the washing of feet.
Christ then says in John 13:15 “15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Note that He does not say “Ye should do what I have done unto you,” but instead He says, “AS I have done to you.”
Additionally, throughout the gospel of John, various objects and illustration are used with spiritual meaning. Figures such as bread, water, a shepherd, sheep, a vine and branches, and so the list goes. Thus, it is not hard to see that water used for washing was a figure of God’s Word cleansing men.
Now let me sum up this point by drawing your attention to one small detail that many often overlook in this story. Go back to verse 4 again and read with me.
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Note that Christ took a towel and did what with it? He girded himself. What is significant about Him girding Himself with a towel? Servants gird themselves with towels. Thus, Christ chose an emblem of a servant to emphasize a servant’s attitude. He then took that same towel and washed their feet. Symbolically, Christ was applying to them the humility which marked Him as the Savior. Another thought to add is this. Many times in Scripture “linens” signified “the righteousness of saints.”
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Thus, it was Christ’s own spotless love which fitted Him as He approached the disciples and applied the Word to them.
How does then apply to us?
We must imitate Christ. Our labor of love towards others must be clothed in humility. Additionally, our labor of love must always be with the Word. Last, we must be clothed in righteousness before we can effectively help others.
This then brings us to the true purpose for us today.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
The Command is to Wash (Cleanse) Our Fellow Believers!
The Command is to Wash (Cleanse) Our Fellow Believers!
Remember that this act of washing was to remove from their feet all the dust and grime from walking on dirty, muddy roads. And, as we have already noted, it was symbolic of cleansing we as believers need each day from God’s Word. God’s Word is the water by which we are cleansed. Thus, the command to “do AS I have done to you” simply means we are not to turn a blind eye to the weaknesses and sin in other fellow believers. Instead, we are to help them overcome their faults.
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
The thing is we can be so quick to see the faults in others that we often fail to see our own faults. That is why both here in Galatians as well as in Christ’s act of washing the disciples’ feet we see meekness and humility. Yes, we must help those who “overtaken in a fault.” However, we must be extremely careful that we do not do so with Pharisaical attitudes or even with cold indifference. Helping others requires great humility, love, and forgiveness. We must be empty ourselves of all sense of self pride and self esteem. We must remember that all of us are God’s “dear children.”
Note what Christ says much later in John 13.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Again, our job in helping fellow believers to help them be cleansed by the Word and to love them with a great love. This means we must a patience that forbears as we faithfully and tenderly apply the Word to their particular case. We must earnestly and daily intercede upon their behalf. Also remember that after Christ washed their feet He also dried their feet. Thus, we have an obligation to help fellow believers even after God’s Word cleanses them. We must never hold their fault against them in the future.
Now, Christ moves on to emphasize two very important principles found throughout all of God’s Word. The first of these is this.
The Principle of Humility
The Principle of Humility
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.
You will note that Christ addresses this principle by calling attention to it with the words “Verily, verily.” The word “verily” means “truly.” One “verily” means what I am about to say is important. However, two “truly” means what I am about to say is extremely important. It was something so important that later in John 15 Christ would remind His disciples of this verse.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Thus, this principle is one of extreme importance. It something so important that if God’s people would have follow it as they should, a lot of meaningless stuff could have been avoided over the years since Christ’s ascension. Unfortunately, pride and the power of self worth often reigns instead.
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
The sad thing is this same spirit of loving “preeminence” is not dead even today.
Instead, over and over again we are instructed in God’s Word to have humility and to humble ourselves before God and others.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Christ reminds us of the principle of humility. Then, He reminds us of this principle as well.
The Principle of Obedience
The Principle of Obedience
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Once you know something then you have the responsibility of acting on what you know.
The question is what “things” do we know from Christ’s action of washing His disciples’ feet?
We need must place our feet in the hands of Christ for cleansing. John13:8 “8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”
We must own Christ as “Master and Lord.” John 13:13 “13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”
We are to wash one another’s feet. John 13:14 “14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
We are to do as Christ did in lowly love. John 13:15 “15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
Now that we know “these things,” the person who does them is a happy and blessed person. It is worse than useless to know Christ’s instruction and not obey them. In fact, Christ gave us the illustration of the wise man and the foolish man who built houses. The foolish man’s house fell, however, the wise man’s house stood firm. Why? It was built upon the Rock. Christ finished that illustration with these words.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
A great example of someone who knows the Word and does nothing based on it is the Devil himself. No one knows more truth than him, yet none works more evil.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Note that Christ did not say “Happy are ye if these things be done to you.” No, He said “Happy are ye IF YE DO THEM.”
How many people today think they will be happy if they have friends who love them? The world’s philosophy is not what can you do for others, but how much can you get others to do for you. The Word of God teaches us differently. True happiness is not dependent on what others do for us. Instead, true happiness comes from our complete obedience to God’s Word. In this case, true happiness comes in serving others. There are way too many believers who are unhappy because they sit around thinking about how they are being treated. They sit around thinking “Well, so and so, never shook my hand at church” or “I do declare so and so should have thought to come over and help me with (fill in the blank).” To be truly happy means you need to start thinking more about helping others and thinking less about yourself. One Bible commentator wrote this.
“True happiness dwells withing; and one of its leading elements is the disinterested self-sacrificing love which made the bosom of Jesus its constant dwelling-place.” - Dr. John Brown
I challenge you to list from the gospel the number of times Christ served himself versus how many times He served others. I dare so that you will find Him constantly serving others with no thought of serving Himself. He is our example. Therefore, we must constantly be working to overcome our own selfish desires and be more focused on serving Him and serving others. A believer who does so is a believer who will find true happiness.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What have learned tonight?
We have a responsibility to loving and humbly help other believers who are overcome in a fault. It is command from Christ. John 13:15 “15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
We need to practice humility. John 13:16 “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.”
We need to obey God’s Word through focusing our efforts on serving others and not ourselves. John 13:17 “17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”