1. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN IV. THE DISCIPLES’ PREPARATION BY THE SON OF GOD (13:1–16:33) A. THE DISCOURSE IN THE UPPER ROOM (Jn 13:1 – 14:31) 1. The Prelude to the Betrayal (13:1-2) 2. The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet (13:3-17) a. Showing the Example (vv. 3-5)  Read Jn 13:4.

2. ~ In such circumstances, the washing of the feet was customary. ~ It was, after all, a menial task, that is, a task to be discharged by a servant. ~ Cf. 1Sam 25:41 ~ But here in the Upper Room there was no servant. ~ Hence, one of the disciples should have performed this task. ~ Lk 22:24

3. ~ The fact that greatness is measured with the yardstick of service had not registered with them.  It was in the midst of such men – men with the So Big attitude of heart, men with Judas the traitor in their midst – that Jesus was about to set an example of humility and service. ~ These utensils – the water-pitcher, the wash-basin, and the apron-towel – constituted a silent accusation against these men!

4.  It was then that Jesus acted. ~ Note that John uses the plural “garments” both here and in v. 12. ~ Both the flowing outer garment and the tunic (as well as the belt, of course) had been laid aside. ~ So Jesus is pictured here as if He were an Oriental slave, wearing nothing but a loin-cloth! ~ Phil 2:5-7

5. ~ Truly, the Lord of glory had “girded Himself with humility” (cf. 1Pet 5:5).  Read Jn 13:5. ~ The heart must linger here a while, until the lesson has been learned.  Doubtless the disciples would have been happy to wash His feet; but they could not conceive of washing one another’s feet, since this was a task normally reserved for the lowliest of menial servants.

6. ~ But here Jesus reverses normal roles. ~ What was unusual about this act was that Jesus, the Master and Teacher, was doing it for His disciples! ~ His act of humility is as unnecessary as it is stunning, and is simultaneously a display of love (v. 1), a symbol of saving cleansing (vv. 6-9), and a model of Christian conduct (vv. 12-17).

7.  Cure for Contention and Pride ~ Unselfish service to each other and to those not part of the inner circle was to be one of the distinctive marks of Jesus’ true disciples (see Jn 13:34-35). ~ WHEN WE FEEL THE TEMPTATION TO PRIDE OR TO COMPETITIVE COMPARISONS WITH OTHER BELIEVERS, THE ANTIDOTE WILL BE A HEALTHY DOSE OF SERVICE.

8. ~ One great starting place would be to pray for those we serve who most irritate us!  Jesus did not wash His disciples’ feet just to get them to be nice to each other. ~ His far greater goal was to extend His mission on earth after He was gone. ~ These men moved into the world serving God, serving each other, and serving all people to whom they took the message of salvation.

9. ~ They would be empowered by Jesus’ ultimate act of service – dying for their sins. ~ Mk 10:45  Jesus was the model servant, and He showed His servant attitude to His disciples. ~ Lk 22:27; cf. Mk 10:45 ~ Phil 2:6-7 NIV ~ Phil 2:8 NIV

10. ~ THE MATCHLESS SELF-EMPTYING OF THE ETERNAL SON, THE ETERNAL WORD, REACHES ITS CLIMAX ON THE CROSS. ~ D.A. Carson: “This does not mean that the Word exchanges the form of God for the form of a servant; it means, rather, that He so dons our flesh and goes open-eyed to the cross that His deity is revealed in our flesh, supremely at the moment of greatest weakness, greatest service.”