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Introduction: What
would you think if I started my sermon by pulling out a basin of
water and a towel and began to wash your feet? How shocked would
you be? Though your shock would be for different reasons, you
begin to see what the apostles felt during the Passover when Jesus
washed their feet. John
13:1-20 is a powerful passage. Yet, it is often
overlooked. When it is discussed, we typically spend more time
trying to explain what it does not mean instead of learning what
it does mean. Allow me briefly to tell you what it does not mean.
It does not mean we have to actually wash each other’s feet.
This was a cultural tradition based on their societal needs and
would have absolutely no meaning to us. Additionally, even within
that tradition, it was never used as a means to worship God.
There, that is what it does not mean. But what does it mean? This
passage issues the greatest challenges of all the word of God.
When we learn what this passage really does mean, we may find
ourselves wishing that all it taught was that we need to have a
foot washing service every once and a while. This passage breaks
through the shallowness of so much modern Christianity. It strips
away the fineries and luxuries with which we often want to
decorate our Christianity and says, “Here is what being
Christlike is all about.” John
13 says, “You may have been baptized, you may go to
church regularly, you may put lots of money in the collection
plate, but until you have done this, don’t deceive yourself. You
are lost.” That is kind of frightening isn’t it? This passage
contains the essence of what it means to be Christian. The rest is
icing on the cake. In this lesson we will learn the six challenges
of John
13:1-20. Discussion: I.
The
challenge to serve others. A.
In Matthew
20:28, Jesus claimed the “Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve.” Of course, the ultimate example of His
service is that He gave “His life a ransom for many.” Yet, I
think at times we have become so used to speaking of the
crucifixion that the service represented by it has become blasé
and unimpressive. Or perhaps, it is so grand that we stand in awe
of it and cannot make application to our own lives. Jesus’
example in John
13 is a little more down to earth. And, because we speak
very little of it, quite impressive. B.
Jesus
completely turned the social order upside down. The Master
performed the task of the slave for His own disciples. Though He
knew God had given Him all things (John
13:3), He did not simply command the disciples to wash one
another’s feet. He served them Himself, leading by example.
According to Luke
22:27, Jesus, who should have been reclining at the table,
being served by His disciples, sat among His own disciples as
their servant. C.
Imagine what
was going through the disciples’ minds as Jesus sat down and
began teaching. “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are
right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and Teacher, washed your
feet, you also ought to wash …” What did they expect to come
next? Perhaps, “Do unto me as I have done unto you.” “You
also ought to wash My feet.” But Jesus did not say that. He did
not use this illustration to teach the apostles to serve Him. He
said, “If I then, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you
also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John
13:14). Can you see it now? The uproar in the mind’s of
the disciples. Imagine Matthew thinking, “Me, wash their feet? I
work for the government. Most of these guys are just fisherman. I
don’t have to put up with this humiliation.” D.
Look at
those around you. Jesus is challenging you to serve them. Could
you gird yourself with the towel and wash their feet? I know, I
know, this passage does not mean we must literally wash someone
else’s feet. But perhaps the mere fact that we bristle at the
thought of washing feet demonstrates we have yet to rise up to
this challenge. If washing feet is too archaic, perhaps you could
take some time this week to go to their house and clean their
toilets. What was that? “How dare you expect me to get on my
hands and knees and scrub anyone’s toilet!” If Jesus, the Lord
and Teacher, performed the lowest of all acts of service for His
servants, then we also ought to serve one another. Are you
challenged yet? II.
The
challenge to humble yourself in the sight of your brethren. A.
How easy it
is to look at ourselves through rose-colored glasses. Or perhaps
how easy it is just to look at ourselves. There are two kinds of
navel gazing. The kind wherein we constantly look at ourselves as
something special. (The subject of the Carly Simon song,
“You’re so vain” fits here.) The other is the one who would
never think he is vain and arrogant, because his thoughts are so
negative about himself. The problem is, most of his thoughts are
about himself. Both people are caught up in forms of arrogance.
Because both, whether they admit it or not, think the world
revolves around and is focused on them. We are not to live this
way. B.
Rather, we
are to humble ourselves. If Jesus were simply saying what James
said in James
4:10, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,”
there would be no challenge. After all, how can we help but be
humble in the sight of the almighty God. But He didn’t say that.
The challenge of John
13 is to humble yourself in the sight of your brethren,
your equals. As I
Peter 5:5 says, “Clothe yourselves with humility toward
one another.” Jesus is our example, who, though equal with the
Father, did not struggle to hang on and demand to be treated as
equal but rather came to this earth as a servant. He was a servant
not only to His equal but to many who were lesser than He and
humbled Himself even to the point of death (Philippians
2:5-8). C.
The
challenge is that in our own minds we are the important ones. Our
strengths are the greatest. Our accomplishments the biggest. Our
minds the wisest. Our position the most important. Our problems
the hardest. Our concerns the most worrisome. Our fears the most
valid. But humility, as expressed in Philippians
2:3-4, means sincerely viewing the person next to you as
more important. Perhaps we do not see this problem in our world
greater in any place than in the home. We know that men and women
are equals, especially in Christ (Galatians
3:28). Yet, in general, wives do not want to submit to
husbands. And husbands often refuse to sacrifice themselves for
their wives. If we will not even humble ourselves before the one
to whom we committed ourselves for life, will we do so for those
who are simply brethren? Are you challenged yet? III.
The
challenge to prefer one another in honor. A.
In all
honesty, this challenge is perhaps one of the greatest for me.
Maybe you know the struggle of wanting to receive honor. Perhaps
you know what it is like to cringe with jealousy when someone else
is complimented. Naturally, we thrive on honor. We seek it and
want it. Men often perform great deeds, not because of concern,
compassion or care but because they will be honored by men. These
are the hypocrites about whom Jesus spoke in Matthew
6:1-5 who performed their good deeds and acts of
righteousness so they might be seen of men. B.
Jesus, God
in the flesh, the one who was most deserving of honor (Revelation
5:12), gave up that glory and came in the form of man,
becoming a bond-servant, not just for God but for you and me, the
least deserving of honor (Philippians
2:7). And on this night, nearly 2000 years ago, He went
even beyond that and treated these twelve ignorant, rash,
arrogant, sometimes rebellious, sinful men as masters. He honored
them by washing their feet. C.
Romans
12:10
instructs us to prefer one another in honor. Don’t seek others
to honor you. Don’t brag about your work. Don’t wait to work
until others can see you. Do your work quietly and make lots of
noise about the work everyone else is doing. But some are not
worthy of honor are they? Can you imagine Peter, James and John,
the inner circle, looking at the others and thinking, “They are
not as close to the Master as we are. They do not deserve as much
honor as we do.” Or perhaps Simon the Zealot thinking, “I
don’t mind honoring Peter, but Matthew is a tax-collector, a
Roman sympathizer. He is not worthy of honor.” Paul addressed
this in I
Corinthians 12:23. We are to bestow the most honor on
those who seem to deserve it least. They are the ones that need
the encouragement. We must catch them doing things right and
praise and honor them for it. The one you simply can’t imagine
honoring, find something about him or her and sincerely honor them
for it. Are you challenged yet? IV.
The
challenge to lean not on your own understanding. A.
At first,
you may think this statement doesn’t belong. But the essence of
Christianity and the challenges presented here are not all about
our relationships with one another. In the midst of this story
another lesson is brought forth, demonstrated by Peter. Poor guy,
he just can’t seem to win for losing. Who knows how many feet
Jesus had washed before coming to Peter. Perhaps he was the first.
Or perhaps he had sat silently in disbelief that the others would
let Jesus be their slave. But he would not, he would refuse. And
who among us would not have done the same? Returning to the
illustration I used above, who among us would allow Jesus to visit
our home and clean our toilets? We are certain, God does not do
toilets. In like manner, He will not wash Peter’s feet. At least
not when we are thinking from our own understanding. B.
Proverbs
3:5
says we must trust in God always and never lean on our own
understanding. Peter, however, was leaning on his own
understanding. Despite all the teaching Jesus had done on serving,
Peter still did not understand fully what Jesus was all about and
who He was. He was (and is) the God who serves. He is the God who
created a universe perfectly suited to our needs. He is the God
who maintains the balance of this universe so we may survive. He
is the God who causes the sun to rise upon us and the rain to fall
on our crops. He is the God who provides us with food, clothing,
shelter and every good thing to enjoy. He is the God who was
coming to the earth to perform the ultimate service for us. Jesus
was and is at His very heart a servant. And Peter didn’t get it.
C.
Notice how
this plays out in John
13:6-9. Peter is flabbergasted, “Lord, do you wash my
feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now, but you
will.” As if instructing a child saying, “It is alright Peter,
I know you don’t understand, but trust Me, I know what I am
doing and you will understand in time.” Instead of heeding
Jesus’ words, he persisted in following down the path of his own
lack of understanding. “Never shall you wash my feet!” What
seemingly noble words that amount to nothing more in this context
than saying, “You may claim I don’t understand, but I
understand this, I am going to serve you my way and my
understanding says you will not wash my feet!” Jesus responded,
“If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” In other
words, “I am giving you another chance here Peter. You do not
understand, but understand this, if you try to force things to be
your way, you will have no part in Me.” At this, Peter realized
his mistake and recanted. Or did he? No, he didn’t. Rather, in a
knee-jerk reaction he continued to act as though he knew better
than Jesus. Surely, if washing feet made him partner with Jesus
then washing feet wasn’t enough. “You aren’t going far
enough Lord, do my head and my hands too.” Again, on the surface
seemingly noble words that suggest Peter’s great desire to be in
partnership with Jesus. But, once again, in the context they
amount to nothing more than, “Master, do things the way I
understand. Don’t make me have faith that your way is right.”
Despite the fact that we all would have probably acted the same
way, Peter still demonstrated self-will. He did not understand
what Jesus was doing. But he should have trusted Jesus. And he
should have let things be done Jesus’ way without trying to
change them or improve them. D.
Do we not
see this in modern religion today as man so often leans on his own
understanding? He believes his service for God is so great because
of his own sincerity. But Peter was sincere in his refusal and
then in his begging. But he was still wrong. We cannot improve on
God’s plan in any way. We may not understand why God has done
something or required something of us. However, we are challenged
not to lean on our own understanding, but rather to trust God
always. Are you challenged yet? V.
The
challenge to quit competing. A.
Can you
imagine how small the disciples felt? These men who had just been
arguing among themselves about who was the greatest (Luke
22:24) sat there and watched the slow process of Jesus,
their Master, washing their dirty and disgusting feet. Can you
imagine each one as he watched Jesus drawing closer, then cleaning
their feet and then wiping them dry? Do you think they were
remembering the arrogant and possibly hateful things they had said
as they argued about how great they were just moments before. B.
The apostles
were in competition. The goal was not to be the best servant of
God they could be. Rather, it was to be a better servant than the
one sitting next to them. Don’t we all have that little part of
us that wants to be better than everyone else? When we stand
before God in judgment, we do not want to hear just, “Well done
good and faithful servant” (Matthew
25:21). We hope to hear, “Well done My best and most
faithful servant.” We want others to see that we add more to the
church. We are smarter. We are the better teachers. Our ideas are
the best. C.
What amazes
me the most is the example of Jesus in this text. As the disciples
competed with one another for the prize of greatness, I half
expect Jesus to stand at the head of the table and say, “Don’t
you guys get it? You are all equals in the scheme of things. I am
the one who is God in the flesh. I am the one who is being given
all authority. I am the one who is going to be sacrificed so your
sins can be forgiven. I am the one who is greatest and the sooner
you recognize that the better off you will be.” But He didn’t.
He got down on His knees, kneeling before these mere men, these
petty men and washed their feet. And He said, “I am the Lord and
Teacher. But I am not here to brag about the great part I play in
the scheme of things. I am here to serve. When you understand that
and follow my example, you will be better off.” D.
Like the
apostles, we are not competitors. We are on the same team. We do
not all run the same leg of the race or perform the same function
(Romans
12:4), but we must not feel that greatness or being the
greatest is our goal. Rather, using what God has given us as best
we can is the goal (Matthew
25:14-30). Are you challenged yet? VI.
The
challenge to love unconditionally. A.
Despite
their claims of allegiance, not one of these men were going to
stand by the one they called Lord and Teacher later that evening.
In fact, despite all the preparation and teaching, not one of
these men would believe it when they were first told of the
resurrection (Mark
16:14). Jesus knew all of that. And loved them up to the
end anyway. B.
The
challenge in this is not to love somebody. Anyone can love
somebody. The Gentiles and tax-gatherers loved somebody (Matthew
5:46-47). The challenge is we are to love everybody
unconditionally. It doesn’t matter who the person is, we are to
love them. It doesn’t matter what they have done or can do to us
or for us, we are to love them. This love is not a feeling that we
simply talk about. It is an action that we demonstrate. And we do
it for all, whether rich or poor, black or white, fat or thin,
ugly or pretty, mean or nice, etc. C.
Jesus not
only demonstrated this love for the apostles who would flee Him in
general. He even specifically washed the feet of Peter. This
apostle, in spite of being warned, would deny Jesus verbally and
voluntarily three times in that very night. And, most amazing of
all, he washed the feet of Judas, who was going to leave in just a
moment, despite this great act of service and love in order to
sell Jesus out to His enemies. He was going to prepare the way for
Jesus’ death. The very heel that was about to be lifted up
against Him (John
13:18), Jesus washed, just as He did the others. D.
Unconditional
love means even knowing that you will not return my love but I
will bestow love on you anyway. It means looking at the one who
hit me and turning the other cheek. It means submitting to the one
who has been oppressive and pressed me into service and going the
extra mile. It means protecting the one who has hurt me. It means
caring for the one who has abused me. For Jesus, unconditional
love went further than just washing the feet of the one who would
betray Him. It went so far as asking the Father, “Forgive them,
they know not what they do” (Luke
23:34) for the very people who shouted, “Crucify Him!”
… for the men who tied up the crown of thorns and pushed it onto
His head. … for the men who drove the nails through His hands.
… for those who stood watching and mocking, “Are You not the
Christ? Save Yourself and us” (Luke
23:39)! He prayed that as He was being sacrificed to
provide that very forgiveness. There is unconditional love. Conclusion: Are you challenged yet? Don’t you wish after studying this chapter that it simply said we had to have a foot washing service every once in a while? That would be easy. Challenges are kind of uncomfortable. But let us not leave on a strictly challenging note. Do not miss John 13:17, Jesus said, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” John 13 challenges us. What it expects and requires of us will take commitment, dedication and work. But, rising up to these challenges provides blessing. We are blessed when we do these things. That is, in these things we will find happiness, contentment and peace. So often we run from these challenges because we think having to serve others or humble ourselves will destroy our self-esteem and our happiness. But do not lean on our culture’s thinking about these things. God knows what will provide us the blessing. Lean on God and face these challenges, ever praying that His good hand be with you.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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