FOOTWASHINGFOOTWASHING July1, 2012

John 13:1-4 1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would 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, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

What did Jesus know, and when did He know it? 1.He “emptied” himself—not of his divinity, but of his independent action as God. John 5:30 2.Still, he had ability beyond humanity. John 2:25 3.He knew he came from heaven. Jn. 6:38 4.John 3:12 & 13 5.His purpose was to do the Father’s will. John 4:34

John 13: Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “ If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

The custom—The need—The service 1.Previous occasions: a.Abraham’s hospitality (Gen. 18:4) b.When David sent for Abigail (I Sam. 25:41 c.Jesus in Simon’s house (Lk.7:44-46) d.Numerous other Old Testament examples (Gen. 24:32; 43;24; Ex. 30:19,21; 40:31; Judges 19:21; II Sam. 11:8) 2.Travelling in their day a.Their climate and their roads b.That need prompted them to provide a basin of water and a towel for washing their guests’ feet. And, in many cases, servants to do the washing. BUT NOTE: Social equals did not wash one another’s feet. To wash someone else’s feet was an admission of inferiority!!

3.So, on this occasion, who is the guest, and who will wash the other’s feet????????

Why this? Why now? The disciples desire for greatness. a.Mark 9:33-37—”They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “ If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “ Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”

b. Matthew 20:20-28—”Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “ My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” 24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Luke 22:24—” And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.

They had traveled from Bethany to Jerusalem. Their feet were dirty. For one of them to wash the feet of the others would have been an admission of inferiority. SO…

Jesus lays aside his garment, takes a towel and a basin of water, and proceeds to wash their feet. WHAT A SIGHT!!!!! Put yourself in their shoes (so to speak). How would you have reacted?

What would this moment have been to Judas? Here is what it was to Peter—an explanation of what was going on. Symbolic—clean but not all. Prophetic—”you will understand hereafter”. We are called to be servants!

John 13: So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know 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, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘ He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

Lessons He wanted them to see “do you know what I have done?” You are not greater than me, are you? If you are going to be like Christ, then you must serve others!

Takeaways 1.This is not the beginning of a religious ordinance. –A. An example that you do “as” I have done to you. –B. Never mentioned in the New Testament as a part of their assemblies, but only in the context of good works. I Timothy 5:10—”A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.”

2.Our need for humility. Watch out: pride can put on a towel and wash feet!!! 3.We should do good to those that do evil to us. 4.But foremost:

TRUE GREATNESS COMES IN SERVING OTHERS, NOT IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY, NOT IN PUBLIC NOTERITY, NOT IN MATERIAL POSSESSIONS, NOT IN EARNED DEGREES, NOT IN GREAT ACTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, NOT IN UNIQUE TALENTS, NOT IN PUBLIC ACCLAIM, ETC., ETC.