OH HOW WE LOVE HIS EXAMPLE
John 13:1-17
Introduction
As disciples of Jesus Christ, the most powerful thing we can do to influence the world is to follow His example of humble service. John 13 is Jesus’ call to a life of loving and serving others. John 13:1 gives us some insight into what Jesus is thinking. It is Passover - a remembrance of the tenth plague, where God’s faithful people were saved by the blood of the lamb on the doorpost of their home. It is time for the cross “his hour had come” - Chapters 13-16 record Christ’s “Upper Room” ministry as he prepared them for His death and the work they would do after His ascension. He is going to return to His father. He loves these disciples that have followed him. He loved them “to the end” (ESV) AMPC: "He loved them to the last and to the highest degree."
Jesus’ actions in this chapter are unexpected and shocking! It is one of his most profound teachings on love and service. The disciples needed the love of Christ to see them through the difficult trials ahead. Our text offers a beautiful example of humble service followed by an explanation that challenges us.
How can we follow the example of Jesus, the humble servant? What can we learn about what it means to be a disciple that is a humble servant of Jesus Christ?
1. Serving Is Often Inconvenient
John 13:1a Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father,
His hour had come (5 times previously, ‘not come’). This is the most inconvenient time ever for Jesus. When have we let time and inconvenience keep us from serving others?
2. Serving Springs From Our Love for God
John 13:1b having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The motive for moving beyond all the barriers to service is love. Jesus gave himself and all he had for those he loved. Jesus rooted his actions in two aspects of love. Love for those who were in the world with him. Love for his father to whom he was returning. Notice that his love is not based on how wonderful the disciples are? The world may label some people as unlovable, but when we see them as made in the image of God, we can serve in love. “The Christ in me sees the Christ in you and I Love You.”
3. Serve When Others May Not Deserve It
John 13:2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him...
If Jesus were washing the feet of really nice and devoted disciples, that would be one thing. John offers this haunting appraisal of Judas, “the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas…to betray him.” Although that is striking, the truth is that Jesus has served every one of us - and none of us deserved it. We are in that company all of us sinners who need saving.
Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
The cross: the ultimate expression of His love. It is a testimony to our inability to save ourselves. It is a testimony to His love for us. God comes to us in our state of helplessness. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
4. Serving Is Focused on the Needs of Others
John 13:3-5 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
Jesus is Lord, King, Son of God! This is work for Gentile slaves! Yet he takes no regard for his power, his ability. We may not think of ourselves as people of power and position - but have we overlooked others who needed our help because they were not in the same category / social status / ability as we are? The big question is not ‘can I lower myself to serve’, the big question is ‘what are the needs that I can help meet?’
5. Serving Requires Setting Aside Pride
John 13:6-11 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
PRIDE is another barrier to humble service. Peter sure had a hard time accepting the humble service of Jesus, but that did not deter the Lord. Swindoll: “We usually feel embarrassed by deeds of service because we perceive that the normal rules’ of status or rank have been breached. In Peter’s mind, the lesser should serve the greater.” It seems strange to see Peter trying to argue with Jesus about service he is going to render. Pride will always interfere with our relationship with Jesus - to accept what Jesus offers is to also accept the truth that we need what He offers! Grace is hard to accept because when we do, we are saying we accept something we needed desperately but could never provide for ourselves!
6. Serving Humbly is Learned from the Master
John 13:12-15 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
It may not come naturally, it may be difficult, but it is something we can do as followers of Jesus. Peter’s spiritual growth would help him. Later he would write:
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
1 Peter 5:5 … Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”
7. Serving Requires Doing
John 13:16-17 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Jesus doesn’t just want us to think about serving, but He wants us to serve. What will it take to move us from knowing we should, to actually serving others in humility?
Conclusion:
Jesus is not only the teacher, but power for humble service.
Andrew Murray “it is only by the indwelling of Christ in His divine humility that we become truly humble.”
What a great example of humble service we have in Jesus.
More - Jesus lives within us … and empowers us to be the humble servants he has called us to be.
Oh how we love Jesus for his healing, salvation, compassion, leading, promise, and his example.
Clovis Chappell said that humility is a “priceless virtue”. It is a door into the Kingdom of heaven “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
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Video of this message will be found on the YouTube Channel of Forsythe Church of Christ
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Questions on John 13:1-17
1. Why do you think Jesus washes the disciples’ feet instead of simply giving them a sermon on love?
2. Humility derives from a verb that mans “to make low” or “to make small or insignificant.” How can we know if we are humble?
3. How is humble service a picture of the gospel to the unbelieving world?
4. Do you feel awkward or uncomfortable when others try to serve you? Why or why not?
5. Do you find it hard to serve people you view as undeserving? What are some excuses you make?
6. How do you read Peter’s objection to Jesus washing his feet. Is he being humble? Is he being prideful? Something else? Why does he change his perspective so dramatically after his first statement about Jesus ‘never’ washing his feet?
7. Among the people you live and work with, what would it mean to ‘practice foot washing’ - to model the humility of Jesus?
8. Some Christian groups literally wash each other’s feet periodically. What are some potentially good and bad results of doing this once or as a periodic practice? Bow could the good results be achieved without the bad ones?
9. How does foot washing illustrate the meaning of the Cross?
10. What does this episode reveal to you about your attitude toward serving?
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Resources:
Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of John, Volume 2.
Carter, Matt and Josh Wredberg. Christ-Centered Exposition: John. Holman, 2017.
Chappell, Clovis G. Questions Jesus Asked. Abingdon Press, 1948.
Connelly, Douglas. John: The Way to True Life. InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Lee-Thorp, Karen, Series Editor. LifeChange Series: John. Navpress, 2010.
Murray, Andrew. Humility (Updated, Annotated): The Beauty of Holiness (Murray Updated Classics Book 2) (p. 28). Aneko Press. Kindle Edition.
Swindoll, Charles R. Swindoll’s Living Insights: John. Tyndale, 2014.
