March 25, 2021
Central Truth
How we respond to a world of darkness and hate says something about our faith. Jesus sets the ultimate example of how to best respond: in faith, through loving and serving those He died for. He was not of this world, and neither are His followers.
"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it 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 had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, 1 13:10 Some manuscripts omit except for his feet but is completely clean. And you 2 13:10 The Greek words for you in this verse are plural are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant 3 13:16 Or bondservant, or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface) is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 4 13:18 Greek But in order that the Scripture may be fulfilled ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 5 13:23 Greek in the bosom of Jesus 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus 6 13:24 Greek lacks Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
1 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; 7 14:1 Or You believe in God believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 8 14:2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 9 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. 10 14:7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me 11 14:14 Some manuscripts omit me anything in my name, I will do it.
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, 12 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be 13 14:17 Some manuscripts and is in you.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
25 These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
Wow—what a loaded passage: Jesus' accurate prediction of events; His new commandment to love one another; Jesus being the way, the truth, and the life and the Three in One; and the list goes on. The point all these ideas make is that Jesus is not just an example for our lives—He is the One with ultimate authority, and we should respond accordingly.
Growing up in what seems to be one of the hardest generations, it can seem like the world is growing further apart. As we look at headlines, yard signs, social media, and the reactions of others, we begin to feel uncomfortable and even out of place as Christians. Good. This isn't home, and it shouldn't be comfortable.
Jesus was not of this world. He felt all of the pressures we have (Hebrews 4:15), but His response was love, demonstrated through service, as illustrated in today's story of washing the disciples' feet. This example is even more shocking when you consider a) he washed everyone's feet, including Judas, whom He knew was going to betray Him, and b) this was a task normally reserved for non-Jewish slaves, not the Messiah of the world.
Though we are sinners, we are no longer of this world when we accept Christ as our Savior. We have a new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:23-24). As a result, our lives look different. Most notably, we should view others as more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4) and seek first to serve, not to be served (Mark 10:45). In fact, we might be called to wash the feet of people in our lives who don't want it (such as people stuck in destructive behaviors or addictions they don't want to stop) or feel like they do not need it (such as people who are convinced by the world that things like money, popularity, or achievements will satisfy).
But as Jesus reminds us in John 13:35, the most effective way we can serve, and what identifies us as belonging to Him, is to "love one another." What an out-of-this-world concept in 2021!
1. This month, whose feet have you had the opportunity to wash (whom have you had the ability to love and serve)?
2. Whose feet is God calling you to wash? Pray for the opportunity, wisdom, and courage to speak to them. Pray also that God would make clear the gifts you have that can point others to Him.
3. Who washed your feet (who led you to Christ/showed or is currently showing you God's truth)? What attributes about how they approached you made you want to pursue Jesus?