THE FORWARD WALK – PART TWO
“THE WALK OF PREPARATION”
JOHN 13:1-11 - ©Larry L. Thompson (2003)
INTRODUCTION:
Last week we began the journey of the FORWARD WALK with Christ as He made His way to the Cross. The Forward Walk that culminates with the glorious celebration of Easter, the resurrection of our Savior and the joy that is ours in the assurance of our salvation today and throughout all of eternity.
In Last Weeks Forward Walk we examined the Forward Walk of Confrontation. We learned that to properly celebrate the resurrection that we should understand Jesus confronts our actions and attitudes that would hinder either our spiritual intimacy or would hinder others from having a personal relationship with Christ.
Today’s Forward Walk will focus on, THE FORWARD WALK OF PREPARATION. First we will examine the New Testament scripture for our focus and then an Old Testament parallel event that will help us understand the absolute necessity of taking this FORWARD WALK OF PREPARATION PRIOR TO OUR EASTER CELEBRATION.
John 13:1-11 (NIV)
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. [2] The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. [3] Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; [4] so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. [6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" [7] Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." [8] "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." [9] "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" [10] Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." [11] For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.”
I. OUR PREPARATION FOR SERVICE (13:1-2)
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. [2] The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.”
Three principles drove Jesus to this time of preparing His disciples for service by washing their feet:
1. HE MUST REDEEM THE TIME. The urgency He knew “His hour” had come. He was to die and His time was short. Whatever He hoped to teach His disciples had to be taught now, for there would soon be no more time.
2. HE MUST RENDER THE TRAINING. He loved His own, that is, His followers upon earth, those for whom He was responsible. His own includes both the heavenly host and all believers who have gone on to heaven. He is Lord, the Son of the living God to whom all has been given; therefore, His own includes all those in both heaven and earth who are followers of Him. And He loves them all. However, the present point is this: He loves “His own...in the world.” Therefore, He was compelled to zero in on them and to do whatever was necessary to help them, no matter the cost. He was compelled by love to wash their feet, no matter the humiliation and the degree of abasement required.
3. HE MUST RECOGNIZE THE TRAITOR. He knew His enemy, and He knew the enemy was about to strike and betray Him. He had to act before the enemy struck. The disciples had to be strengthened and fortified, shown and taught immediately. Once the enemy struck, it would be too late.
The same three principles should drive every believer as we take the Forward Walk in Preparing to emulate the life of our Lord as we prepare for Easter and prepare to serve others.
1) WE MUST REDEEM THE TIME. Knowing that our hour has come, our time is ever so short.
EPH. 5:16
“Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
COL. 4:5
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”
ROMANS 13:11-12
“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. [12] The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
2) WE MUST RENDER THE TRAINING. Loving “his own,” those for whom the believer is responsible. As Christ equipped those He loved in preparing them for service so also must we follow that example and render the training of love in preparing others for service in the Kingdom.
JOHN 15:9
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
JOHN 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
1 JOHN 3:16
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”
How can we render that training of love to others? FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS.
He loved the one who rejected Him-Rich Young Ruler
He loved the one who betrayed Him-Judas
He loved the one who denied Him-Peter
He loved the one who deserted Him-The Disciples
His love was unconditional, compassionate and complete.
3) WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE TRAITOR. Knowing our enemy, and understanding that he is going to strike immediately and with all the force he can to rob God’s people of living a life that will honor Christ and leading others to the ETERNAL TRUTH is a key to our victory in the FORWARD WALK.
EPH. 6:10-11
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
JAMES 4:7
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1 PETER 5:8-9
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [9] Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
One key principle in this text is that even though Jesus KNEW JUDAS was the enemy…He loved Judas. Even if you reject His love, He still loves you.
We must remember that these same principles that Christ used in preparing His disciples for the FORWARD WALK should drive us to prepare for our service, to be faithful, laboring all the time, persisting and persevering.
II. OUR PATTERN FOR SERVING (13:3-5)
“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; [4] so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
There are three obvious designs in the pattern Jesus left us as we prepare to follow His Forward Walk in Serving Others. The First design is:
1. HUMILITY:
The Forward Walk of Jesus Chris is the extreme demonstration of royal service. The service was royal because it was being performed by Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself. He and He alone is the Lord of Lords and King of kings. As mentioned above, both the heavenly host and believers, whether on earth or in heaven, belong to Him. This is the stress of this point: Jesus knew who He was. He knew His Divine Personality, yet He humbled Himself. This humility is evidenced in what He said as well as what He did:
“Jesus KNEW that the Father had put ALL things under his power…” Jesus knew all power and authority and glory and honor—all beings both in heaven and earth—all ministry and rule—all judgment and all responsibility for saving mankind from the bondage of Sin and eternal judgment.
“…and that he had COME from God…” Jesus knew that He had come from God. He knew the exalted position from which He had come and the enormous concession He had made to empty Himself of the glory. He knew the great gulf He had spanned in coming to earth.
“…and was RETURNING to God.” Jesus knew that He was going to be returning to God. He knew that He was to assume His former position of glory, honor, and rule. He knew that He was to take His place at the right hand of God very soon. He KNEW EVERY KNEE WOULD BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT HE ALONE IS LORD.
He, who was King of kings and Lord of lords, who was God, is God and always will be God, laid His clothing aside and the Creator began to wash the feet of His Creation. The Humility of Jesus is evidenced as…
The Master became the Slave.
The King of Kings became Servant of All.
The Highest of Heaven took the Lowest Position on Earth.
The Sovereign Savior became the Submissive Servant.
LUKE 22:26-27
“But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. [27] For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”
JAMES 4:10
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
1 PETER 5:5
“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
The second design in the pattern of service is:
2. HELPFULNESS
Notice how impartial and considerate was our Savior in His expression of love and service! How different it is with us! We like to choose not only the place in which we want to serve, but also the people we want to serve! But a vision of our Savior kneeling at the feet of His disciples should prepare us to deal with our pride and selfishness, once and for all. Jesus got up, put the water in the basin, took the towel and dried their feet; all of them, including Judas.
Jesus knew who He was, yet He still gave the most extreme demonstration of helpful service possible. He chose the most extreme act possible to demonstrate need for humility as we prepare to follow the FORWARD WALK OF CHRIST.
It is not the Christian’s POSITION in life that is critical for following Christ; it is the POSTURE of their heart which is the key to truly helpful service.
MATTHEW 20:27-28
“…and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The third design in our pattern for service is…
3. HOLINESS (13:6-11)
“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" [7] Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." [8] "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." [9] "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" [10] Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." [11] For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.”
The prerequisite for the service that Christ has called us to share is found in our salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Holiness is not possible in HUMANNESS. Holiness is only possible by the supernatural design of God in the gift of eternal life through the sacrifice of His Son and our Savior.
What happened in this text is critical for every person who claims to be a follower and a servant of the Lord. The crucial prerequisite for all CHRISTIAN SERVICE if found in this one statement:
“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (John 13:8)
Here is the key: Before a person can ever SERVE Christ, he must become a part of Christ, holiness is through Christ alone.
Then Jesus added, John 13:14 (NIV) “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”
If we would know a life of holiness we must remember that our relationship with our fellow man and our relationship with God must be right. In other words, we are not only to seek to live a life of holiness VERTICALLY, but also HORIZONTALLY. James exhorts us that we are to “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed…” James 5:16 (NIV)
Now, notice the spiritual truth found in this text:
SALVATION AND SPIRITUAL HOLINESS THROUGH CHRIST ALONE IS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD. Jesus approached Peter to wash his feet, that is, to clean the dirt and pollution from the lowliest part of his being (his feet). Peter saw Jesus washing him and the others only in terms of the physical and counted it too humiliating a thing for his Lord to do. Therefore, Peter drew his feet back in objection. Never would the Lord of the universe be allowed to do such a thing.
However, it is problematic that Peter saw the service Christ offered only from the human and physical act…ignoring the holiness of God and the supernatural work of His cleansing. Today we have the clear picture of what is needed in our spiritual preparation. So clear is this text that God’s word tells us that we are without excuse.
Conclusion:
Regarding our Spiritual Preparation for THE FORWARD WALK with Christ…There is No Excuse!
There is no excuse for not understanding we too must make preparations to be clean in order to join Him in the FORWARD WALK.
1 John 1:7
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
There is no excuse for not allowing Christ to cleanse us from our sin. Every one of us should cry out as Peter did: “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” Peter cried for a whole cleansing. He craved to be washed all over, through and through.
There is no excuse for holding back, for failing to prepare for eternity and for service here on earth. There is no such thing in the Christian walk as a partial cleansing. The tongue, the eyes, the hands—what one says, looks at, touches, hears and feels—must all be washed and cleansed by Christ, or as He said to Peter, “you have no part in Me.”
Psalm 51:2
“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
There is no excuse for not understanding that the cleansing of Christ is thorough and permanent. Peter had just cried for a whole and thorough cleansing. Notice this glorious truth, perhaps one of the most glorious truths in all of Scripture. John 13:10
“Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean...”
There is no excuse for not understanding that a vital part of our spiritual preparation is to seek holiness through the daily cleansing of sin in our life. As Peter walked through the dirt of the world, he needed to ask Jesus to cleanse him from the pollution which he had picked up. He needed a localized cleansing, a cleansing of the body parts that had become dirty.
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
There is no excuse for not understanding that preparation for our spiritual cleansing is not automatic nor does it come by association. This is clearly seen in Judas. Judas had been with Jesus, working by His side day in and day out. He was a professed follower and servant of the Lord, and so far as could be seen, he had no glaring public sin or corrupt habits. Yet, he never prepared, he never allowed Jesus to wash and cleanse him.
Last week we discovered the need for confrontation to experience the FORWARD WALK WITH JESUS CHRIST. This week we have found the absolute necessity of personal preparation if we are to follow Him in the FORWARD WALK. Our lives can and will make a difference this Easter but not without confronting the sin in our life and preparing our hearts by allowing Christ to forgive us of our sin and to cleanse us in order that we may FOLLOW HIM as HUMBLE SERVANTS OF THE KING.
