WASH YE ONE ANOTHER
John 13:2-17
INTRO. Luke 22 tells us of a conversation that took place at the table just moments before this event took place (Lk. 22:24-27). Jesus is preparing to go to Calvary and He knows that soon after that He will be going back to the Father. The problem is that His apostles still do not fully understand the real meaning of the "Kingdom of God". (Rom. 14:17) - "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink: but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."
In order to try to get the point across in a way that they will remember it, Jesus presents them with a glorious object lesson.
A. (Background) In the hot, dusty country of Palestine, most people wore sandals and their feet became excessively dirty. A water basin sat at the entrance of most Jewish homes. Upon entering a person’s home, the poor would wash their own feet, and the rich would have a servant available to wash their feet.
Here we see Jesus as He takes on the role of a slave and begins to wash the dirty feet of the apostles. They had been arguing over who was to assume the leading positions in Christ’s government when He took over the kingdom. What Jesus did was demonstrate for them the way of true royalty -- which comes through humbling oneself to meet the needs of others.
B. (Description of the setting) (1) Jesus pushes back from the table, (2) removes His coat, (3) wraps a towel around His waist, (4) takes a basin of water, (5) kneels at the first apostle He comes to, (6) removes his sandals and (7) begins to wash the disciple’s feet.
C. What a beautiful picture of the mission of Christ....
See the blessed and holy Son of God as He rises from His position at the right hand of the Father. He, who spoke the worlds into existence willingly lays aside His glory so that He might gird Himself with the humble covering of humanity. Then He offers Himself as the very greatest of sacrifices for the well-being of others.
D. Then Jesus comes to Peter. Peter objects. In the Greek text, the syntax is arranged so as to place special emphasis on the pronouns...."Lord, dost thou wash my feet?"
E. Jesus then, being the master teacher that He is, takes this opportunity to give an explanation, an illustration, and a challenge to His disciples.
I. THE EXPLANATION OF SALVATION. (Vs. 8)
A. The prerequisite for proper service is that of being washed and cleansed. This is a critical point for every person who claims to be a follower and servant of the Lord.
"If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me"
{the word "wash" here, means to bathe, as opposed to a mere rinsing.}
1. Before a person can serve Christ according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, that person must be made a part of Christ. However, before a person can become a part of Christ, he must be washed and cleansed by Christ.
2. Washing is meant to be a metaphor for salvation.
a. As essential and fundamental as this is, there are still many people who call themselves "Christian" who are trying to serve...trying to follow Christ, who have never been washed by the Saviour.
b. There is no excuse for not understanding what Jesus meant. (Tit. 3:3-5)
c. (Rev. 1:5) - "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood"
B. The Lord’s reply must have shattered Peter’s ego.
a. This was another version of the Lord’s earlier message to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again."
b. Without the new birth, even the great teacher, Nicodemus, would be unable to see the kingdom. Similarly, unless Peter were washed by Christ, his claims to discipleship would be null and void.
c. The Lord expressed a vital truth when, in so many words, He declared, "The people who are My disciples are washed by Me. Those who are not cleansed by Me do not belong to Me."
II. THE ILLUSTRATION OF SANCTIFICATION.
A. Upon recognizing what the Lord was talking about, Peter did what so many people do....he went to the opposite extreme. (Vs. 9)
B. Notice the beauty of the Master’s response. (Vs. 10)
1. It was quite normal in the oriental culture to find a large bath house that served the entire city. In returning home from the bath a man’s feet would get dirty and need rinsing, but not his whole body.
2. So the believer is cleansed from his lost and sinful state once for all. THIS IS SECURITY. But as he walks through the dirt of the world, he needs to come to Christ for a cleansing from the pollution which he has picked up.
3. This is a daily confession of sins to the Father so that we may continue to abide in unbroken fellowship with our God. THIS IS SANCTIFICATION. (Rom. 12:1-2)
C. Washing and cleansing do not come by association. Judas is proof of this. "Depart from me I never knew ye."
III. THE CHALLENGE TO SERVICE. (Vs. 12-17)
A. Before entering into this passage, a word should be said concerning the actual foot-washing.
1. Vs. 15 says that this was an example. Some teach that this means that we should do what He did.
a. If this were true we must all sit on the floor for they did not have dining room chairs.
b. We must also be sure to include a non-believer in our midst because Judas was with the disciples.
c. And finally, why would we stop there? We should also raise the dead and make the blind to see.
2. This is an example. It was meant to be a mold from which they would model their service toward each other.
B. So then, with Christ as our example, we are commanded to "wash one another’s feet." This is our challenge to service and in order to meet this challenge, we must first examine the actions and attitudes of Jesus.
1. He was an example to them.
2. He humbled Himself for their sakes.
3. He exemplified meekness and forgiveness.
4. He showed them the practical application of Biblical truth.
5. He counseled them in the ways of godliness even though it included a reprimand for improper thinking.
6. He did not hesitate to address the fact that one of them was a hypocrite.
7. He encouraged them by promising them joy.
C. This example is enlarged upon throughout the rest of the New Testament.
1. (Rom. 14:1) - receive one another
2. (Rom 12:10) - be kindly affectionate to one another.
3. (Rom 14:19) - edify one another
4. (Rom 15:1) - bear with one another
5. (Rom 15:2) - please one another
6. (Rom 15:14) - admonish one another
7. (Gal 5:13) - serve one another
8. (Col. 3:13) - forbear one another, forgiving one another.
9. (Heb 3:13) - exhort one another
10. (Heb. 10:24) - provoke one another to good works.
11. (James 5:16) - pray for one another
D. The point is this, the servant of Christ is to serve others sacrificially by ministering to, first, their spiritual needs and then to their physical needs.
1. (Mk. 10:43-44) - But whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all."
2. (Gal. 6:10) - "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
3. (Mt. 16:24) - "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
CONCLU. "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
Are you happy in Christ Jesus? Would you like to be?
1. Perhaps you have never had your sins washed clean by the holy blood of the Lamb of God.
2. Perhaps you have been saved but the Holy Spirit is grieved by the presence of sin in your daily life. You need to experience repentance and confession of that sin.
3. Perhaps the call of Christ is being issued to you to be a minister of God’s grace to those around you. Are you following the example of Jesus by being an example to others?
