The Private Ministry of Jesus: John Chapters 13-21
Study this section one chapter at a time!
John Chapter 13
Life is a mixture of joy and sorrow!
The life of Christ was no different, for Jesus wept for our sins as He rode into Jerusalem on the unbroken colt, and He rejoiced over the disciples and friends who were His followers.
With only a few days left to live, Jesus did everything He could to prepare His followers for His death.
Read John 13:1-17
Christ had always known from eternity past the events that would happen in His life.
He understood fully that His time of earthly death on the cross had come.
Notice that Jesus discloses the condition of Satan’s presence in the life of Judas Iscariot, for Judas had already made up his mind to betray Jesus.
Jesus washed Judas’ feet in humility, and Judas felt the tender hands of the Savior caress his feet with cool cleansing water; yet his heart failed to recognize the extent of Jesus’ love.
The washing of Judas’ feet was Jesus’ last-ditch effort to reach the heart and soul of Judas, but it was too late; for Judas’ heart was much too hardened, and he had been sold a lie by Satan.
Judas will remember in all eternity the tender hands of Jesus washing his feet.
A lady who accepted Jesus as her Savior was traveling around the country speaking in different churches.
As she traveled, she mostly lived out of her suitcase, for she ministered in many out of the way places.
Once she entered the rest room of a gas station.
It was a dirty rest room.
The lady said to herself, “Lord, I deserve better than this!”
So, she picked up some towels, cleaned the rest room, and never complained again.
Jesus washed all His disciple’s feet, which again is a candid snapshot of our initial salvation cleansing, as Jesus poured out His precious blood that we might be made clean.
Our initial salvation cleansing should be followed by a daily cleansing so that sin will not destroy our union with Christ.
Believers need to daily read the Word, even after his or her salvation experience, which is a picture of our daily cleansing.
Read John 13:18-38
The Old Testament had predicted Jesus would be betrayed, but the disciples were dumbfounded, for they had no idea what Jesus meant.
The other Gospels indicate that each one asked, “Surely not I, Lord?” (Matthew 26:22).
Even when Jesus told them that He and the betrayer would eat from the same bowl, the disciples did not suspect Judas.
In the life of Judas we see the depth of the pit in which evil has the ability to plunge our lives.
Many Christians today hide a heart full of hate, for Satan has possession of them.
That’s why we need to continually examine our Christianity and be sure it’s genuine.
You can’t hide your true feelings from Jesus, for Jesus knows those He has chosen before the foundation of the world (John 13:18—key verse).
With Judas gone from the Upper Room, Jesus was left with those who truly loved Him, and Jesus could focus upon the cross and the victory that would bring glory to God.
In verses 31-38 Jesus predicts Peter’s denial, which is an example for us today of the wonder of Christ’s love for His own who constantly disappoint Him.
Jesus knows all, and He knew exactly the course Peter would take, but He didn’t disclose Peter’s weakness because of His great compassion for Peter.
“My children” in verse 33 shows us that Jesus sees all Christian believers as His children.
In verse 34, Jesus gives us the 11th Commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
This is the acid test of our Christianity, and the one characteristic where all can identify a Christian (Romans 5:5).
Giving yourself to God requires a commitment to servanthood.
What a perfect example we have of servanthood in World Changers, who are here this week in Columbia working on various mission projects.
A servant’s first interest is not in himself or herself, but in others.
Continue to read and study this Bible study series in the Gospel of John.
Rev. Jimmy Davis
Bayview Baptist Church
5300 Two Notch Road
Columbia, SC 29204
Telephone: 803-754-8690
Email: BayviewBaptist@aol.com
