Washing The Feet Of The Disciples Series

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