Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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.

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

As we examine this command, I want to begin with this point.

The Command was Not a Literal Command of Washing Feet

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Christ reminds us of the principle of humility.

Then, He reminds us of this principle as well.

The Principle of Obedience

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.