THE ROAD TO THE RESURRECTION
WASHING THE FEET OF THE DISCIPLES
TEXT: John 13:1-17
John 13:1-17 KJV Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. [2] And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; [3] Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; [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. [6] Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? [7] Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. [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. [9] Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. [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. [11] For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. [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.
I. INTRODUCTION—ROBERT CARO AND LBJ
Robert Caro is one of the most prominent biographers of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th President of the United States. He spent the great majority of his writing career researching and studying the political life of Johnson. His very first book, The Path of Power, was described by Caro as being a very different biography. He wrote that he was not merely trying to write about facts and to tell the story of the man but rather he found a vein, a pattern, in the life of Johnson that had to do with a man who was first intrigued with power and then became drunk with its impact that it could have on others.
Lyndon Baines Johnson—I do understand power, whatever else may be said about me. I know where to look for it, and how to use it.
One of the books that Caro wrote was Master of the Senate and it expresses how that Johnson went into the Senate representing the state of Texas. He had already honed his political skills by the small district politics he had played in Texas and using the relationships he had with the great oil barons. After having been in the Senate for just one term, he became the youngest Majority Leader to ever hold that position. Once achieving that position, he started working to reach the highest place in American politics, the president of the United States of America. He worked with incredible stealth by marrying up to the liberals like Hubert Humphrey. He was given to violent rages with his staff and his tantrums were epic. But no one would call him on it because of the power that he had managed to grab over people.
-That kind of leadership was at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to what Jesus had. This text that we have read validates that.
II. JOHN 13:1-17—WASHING THE FEET OF THE DISCIPLES
-This is the second scene to visit in this series on The Road to the Resurrection. The second Temple cleansing has taken place on Tuesday. We now have come to a transition point in the ministry of the Lord. He is now turning away from the public side of his ministry which John covers in the first twelve chapters of his gospel. From John 13 until its conclusion is focused on the private ministry of the Lord to His disciples.
A. John 13:1—The Passover Feast
John 13:1 KJV Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
-The Passover feast was a prominent one in Israel’s history. It took place annually and was a time of celebration honoring the nation’s deliverance from Egypt. The angel of death had passed over every home that had the blood applied to the doorpost in the land of Goshen where Israel lived. But the nation of Egypt had not fared as well. Because they did not have the blood on the doorpost, the whole nation had a loss of the firstborn son.
-The instructions of Moses had been specific to the children of Israel:
• Preparations begin on the tenth day of the month, Abib.
• The head of every household was to select a lamb.
• The lamb had to be a year old, a male, without any defects.
• The lamb would be slaughtered in the evening.
• The blood was to be applied to the doorpost of every house.
• The family was to eat the roasted lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened bread.
• The meat was to be roasted whole with the head and legs intact. It could not be eaten raw or boiled.
• All leftovers were to be burnt.
• The meal was to be eaten with an air of haste and expectancy.
-On that night, every person in the nation was literally a nation of priests. This whole event set in motion a type of New Testament salvation. The lamb that had been slaughtered for its blood to serve as a covering for the safety of the firstborn would be the type of what the Lord would do for New Testament believers at a later time.
-This Passover that was to be taken part of in John 13 would be the last one because after the crucifixion, Jesus Christ would be the Lamb that would be sacrificed for the sin of the world. He was the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36; Rev. 5:6; 6:9; 7:10, 17; 14:4, 10; 15:3; 19:9; 22:1, 3) and his blood would be poured out for the forgiveness of sin (Matt. 26:28).
Titus 2:14 KJV Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Hebrews 9:12-15 KJV Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
-There is power in the blood! But mixed in with all of this promise, there is a terrible plot taking place.
B. John 13:2—The Plot at the Passover
John 13:2 KJV And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
-This verse is a most disturbing one. The devil has worked by temptation and now has placed into the heart of Judas to betray the Lord. The Greek word for “put” is BALLO which has the connotation for having thrown, or cast, or struck the heart of Judas with the temptation of the destruction of Jesus.
-It was one of the fiery darts of the devil (Eph. 6:16) that he kept firing in the direction of Judas. The devil works constantly with every tactic possible to draw men away from God.
Thomas Manton—Satan never gets greater advantage on wicked men than after a careless use of such precious ordinances.
-Take that into consideration as well in knowing that after great spiritual victories there are often increased temptations toward failure and unbelief. That is where we must put our trust and confidence in God.
-The devil will use temptation that will lead to failure in the life of the saint and sinner alike. He works to get a foothold however that may be:
• He has a hand in all sins
• He sometimes works by suggestion
• He will inflame the lusts and corruptions of the flesh
• He assaults us sometimes by stirring up the enemies of God
• He tries to make righteousness seem to be impossible to live up to
• He sometimes has power over the health of the body and destruction of possessions (Job) to lead to sin
• He has false and deceptive promises
• He cannot overcome us without our consent
-This single verse really deserves its own sermon but before we progress on to the portion of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, consider what John further writes:
John 13:27 KJV And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
-It is placed into his heart in John 13:2 and by the time we get to John 13:27, Satan has fully entered him! Don’t miss the fact that they were taking part in the Passover meal which should have been a time of celebration for them.
-The devil had been watching all of the disciples for a period of time looking for an inroad to destroy Jesus. He had found one with Judas. One of the places that we see him gaining an advantage of Judas is through his own greed and ambition. John 12:4-6 is just one place where we can see a hint at this breach in the spirit of Judas.
1 Peter 5:8-9 KJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
C. John 13:3-5—The Particulars of a Servant
John 13:3-5 KJV Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; [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.
2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Hebrews 1:1-3 KJV God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Colossians 1:15-20 KJV Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; [20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
-What we do see in the Incarnation is the Lord Jesus Christ coming to the earth to fit the role of a servant. Now through this scene, He literally does that. He gets up from the meal, “he riseth from supper,” and takes on the role of a servant who is not in the room.
-Ordinarily there would have been a servant who would have removed the sandals of the guests and washed their feet. Since this meeting was probably very secretive, no servant was present to do this. None of the disciples were going to volunteer for the task because to do such would have shown their inferiority to the others.
-These men had heard Jesus on various occasions telling them of the need to be servants and to serve others (Matt. 23:11). But according to Luke’s account, there had been an ongoing debate about who among them were the greatest:
Luke 22:24 KJV And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
Mark 10:37-41 KJV They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. [38] But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? [39] And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: [40] But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. [41] And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
-“Then he riseth from supper.” There are times in life that sermons stand up and get us by the collar and grip our soul. This is one of the moments for the disciples. They are immediately uncomfortable, awkward, and caught off guard. They have seen Jesus do some of the most tremendous things but never taking the garb of a servant and being employed as a common house servant.
-It is the act of humility:
• Humility is expressed in unselfishness.
• Humility is expressed in deeds and not too often in words.
• Humility renders a person useful, not flashy, but very valuable.
• Humility is a result of inward holiness being expressed outwardly.
• Humility can only come through self-surrender.
• Humility means that often it will be inferiors who will be served.
-Imagine for a moment being in the little room that evening with the Lord and His disciples. We can be lead to think that for a bit they are stunned into a silence that they cannot seem to break out of. Think of what it would have been like to have your feet washed by Jesus. That would be like having the greatest spiritual person that you know kneeling to give himself or herself to doing such an act of humility.
D. John 13:6-11—The Protest of Peter
John 13:6-11 KJV Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? [7] Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. [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. [9] Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. [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. [11] For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
-Peter, as usual, is not silent concerning this. We have no way of knowing how many of the disciples’ feet that Jesus has washed when He gets to Peter. Furthermore, we should not think that Peter was lashing out at the Lord in disrespect.
-Perhaps it could have been like this, “Lord! You are washing my feet?” Even his negative reply, “NEVER to all eternity shall you wash my feet!” I really believe that it was Peter’s high regard he had for Jesus and that Jesus should not lower himself to such a degrading place as a servant.
-The response of Jesus back to Peter lets us know that this was more than just an act of foot washing, there was something deeply symbolic about what was taking place. . . Jesus said. . . What I am doing right now means nothing to you but there will come a time when it dawns on you.
-The Lord would tell Peter that if he did not wash his feet that he would have no part in the coming Kingdom. Peter then had a changed mind and told the Lord that not just his feet but his hands and head as well. Later it would come to Peter that the deepest meaning of the death, the burial, and the resurrection, would have a connection with the role of Jesus as a servant.
-He did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for the sins of many (Matt. 20:28). We can only wonder if Peter had that in mind when he wrote in his epistle these words:
1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 Peter 2:24 KJV Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 3:18 KJV For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
-What we know about the power of the Cross is that it has the greatest power in the world for the cleansing of sin.
-But there is an application from this segment of Scripture that holds true for all saints. When the Lord told Peter that he only needed for his feet to be washed, it was an understanding that he was clean prior to coming into the meal but his feet had gotten dirty during the walk.
-When we are born again there is a work of salvation that takes place. We have experienced something called justification:
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Philippians 3:8-9 KJV Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
-The righteousness of Jesus Christ has been placed in our lives. . . We have been washed completely! Our sins have been forgiven (Col. 2:13; Titus 2:14; 1 John 1:7-9). But we walk in a fallen world and are still in need of a daily cleansing from the defilement of the sins in the world and in our flesh:
Philippians 2:12 KJV Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 3:12-14 KJV Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. [13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
-But there was one disturbing fact among that small group, one of them was not clean even though he had participated in the foot washing. . . we know it now because of the unfolding of history. . . Judas would betray the Lord.
-The same thing takes place in the church on a regular basis. While everything spiritual is taking place, there are some who never let a deep spiritual work take place in their heart.
E. John 13:12-17—The Pattern for Disciples
John 13:12-17 KJV 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.
-There is one more crucial lesson for us to take to heart from this passage. There are some who would say that every time that we participate in the Lord’s Supper that it should be accompanied by foot washing. However, we should take into great consideration that this is the only place it appears in Scripture except for 1 Timothy 5:10 where the context makes it a part of good deeds performed by an individual but not practiced corporately as a church.
-One would think that if this was the standard practice it would have been recorded throughout Acts as a historical event and then in the epistles it would have been laid out as a spiritual practice and principle. So what is being called for in this passage?
-We are called to the service of others. Because the Lord loved, He served. Because we love, we will serve.
• We see his example.
• We listen to his challenge.
• We must imitate his heart.
• We realize how much has been given to us.
• We serve.
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
III. CONCLUSION—THE CALL TO SERVICE
-This story comes from The Preaching the Word Commentary series on John by R. Kent Hughes:
In 1878 when William Booth’s Salvation Army had just been so named, men from all over the world began to enlist. One man, who had once dreamed of himself as a bishop, crossed the Atlantic from America to England to enlist. He was a Methodist minister, Samuel Logan Brengle. And he now turned from a fine pastorate to join Booth’s Salvation Army. Brengle later became the Army’s first American-born commissioner. But at first Booth accepted his services reluctantly and grudgingly. Booth said to Brengle, “You’ve been your own boss for too long.” And in order to instill humility into Brengle, he set him to work cleaning the boots of the other trainees. And Brengle said to himself, “Have I followed my own fancy across the Atlantic in order to polish boots?” And then as in a vision he saw Jesus bending over the feet of rough unlettered fishermen. “Lord,” he whispered, “You washed their feet: I will polish their boots.”
-If you are going to count as a real follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, there has to be a sense of humble service in your life.
• Are we serving our families as we should?
• Providing for them?
• A home that has a sense of security and peace about it?
• Are we serving our spouses as we should?
• Respecting them?
• Caring for them?
• Loving them without strings attached?
• Listening to them?
• What of fellow believers that we may loathe?
• What about those we have not spoken to in years because of some little misunderstanding?
• What about those who work in the medical field?
• Can you see what you are doing as an extension of Jesus Christ to heal or is it just a paycheck?
• What about those patients who come from horrific homes?
• What about those who are train wrecks to try to appease and take care of?
• What about the business practices that we are involved in?
• What about the employees that some of you have under your watch?
• Are you a tyrant of a boss?
-All of those questions are worthy of a response as we consider what Jesus said. . .
John 13:14 KJV If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
Philip Harrelson
March 7, 2017
