Holy Week 2022

This passage has always amazed me. Jesus knows the hour is coming for him to lay down his life for the sins of the world. In this passage we see that Jesus is visibly demonstrating for them what laying down ones life looks like.

I. In order to lay down ones life you must lose your dignity.

John 13:1–4 (CSB)

1 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God.

4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself.

Jesus the Lord of all creation, The messiah to the world, and teacher to the twelve, laid down his dignity to fulfil a duty meant for servants and slaves.

II. Jesus served those who didn’t even understand his purpose.

John 13:6–9 CSB

6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said. Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

III. Jesus served those that would despise him!

John 13:11 CSB

11 For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

In this example of Jesus we see foreshadowed the sacrifice that was to come in just a few hours. Jesus would be stripped, he would take on the death that was meant for criminals but instead of just washing his disciples feet he would with his blood wash the sins of the world.