Presents
Pamphlet
1513
John
chapter 13
When something is written of or spoken by the Word of God long before it comes to pass, and then we see it come to pass exactly as it is written, it makes His Word REAL, and it greatly increases our faith and trust in Him.
We have now come to the Preparation Day, the 14th day of Nisan, our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset. This is the day of the crucifixion.
What do you mean you thought Jesus was crucified on Good Friday? Where did you get that idea? (We'll discuss this later in this Gospel of John.)
We now join Jesus and His disciples at what is known as "The Last Supper". He is about to teach them and set forth an example of how they, as disciples of Christ and soon to be apostles sent forth to carry the gospel, should treat one another.
What an attitude! Don't miss what is being said in this verse. Jesus knew that His hour was come and this was His last supper, and that He was going to be betrayed and tried and crucified. Yet, He did not "run scared" or become "self-absorbed" in the awful set of circumstances that awaited Him. Instead, He cared for and was concerned about His disciples, both then and now, even the one who had already cut a deal with the sons of Cain to betray Him, and He loved and taught them right "unto the end".John 13:1
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.
This does not mean that they were finished eating supper. It just means that supper was "done being served" to them. Most translations will read "during supper". And we see that Satan has already "won over" Judas by placing $$$$ in his mind, for he was a lover of money, and even the "keeper of the bag", i.e. treasurer (Jn. 12:6).[2] And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
But remember back a few chapters in John 6:70-71 that Jesus stated that He chose all twelve of the disciples, even Judas, who was chosen to betray Him? Judas' betrayal therefore, was in the plan of God.
This verse prepares our minds, in reminding us who Jesus is, that He was given all power, and that He was indeed the Messiah come from God, and that He would rise again and be glorified and ascend to the right hand of the Father. Now watch what the Son of God does next.[3] Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
He stands up and takes off His outer garments and then ties a towel around His waist like the apron of a servant, i.e. He has taken on the garment of a slave. He then pours water into a basin and proceeds to wash the feet of His disciples.John 13:4
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
It is important to note that He only does this to and for His disciples, and not to the multitudes or the Pharisees, but only those who serve Him and who would walk forth and carry the gospel to the world. And because Jesus was the Word of God, you can be sure the feet of those disciples, though they had been made dirty by this flesh world, were a beautiful sight to Him indeed (though not the actual feet but the loved ones to whom they were attached). How do we know? He had it written long ago by His servant He sent forth, whose name "Isaiah" means "the salvation of Yah". (It is also quoted in Rom. 10:15):
Yes, His servants, His watchmen, shall lift up the voice.saiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
So Jesus, in the role of servant to His disciples, washes their feet.8] Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
He also washed the feet of the one who would betray Him, even Judas. Then he comes to Mr. Simon Peter:John 13:5
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.
"You've got to be kidding, Lord! YOU are going to wash MY feet?", says Peter, the lively disciple.[6] Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
"You'll understand shortly, Peter."7] Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
"No way", says Peter, "YOU are never going to wash MY feet."John 13:8
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.
This short precise ultimatum by Jesus quickly flipped the mind of this "creature of extremes" to the outer limit of the other side. "Well if that's the case Lord, then I'll take the deluxe service and you can wash my hands and head too!", said the big lovable fisherman, no doubt with a smile and a grin on his face.13:8 cont. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Editors Note: Think carefully about what Jesus just said to Simon Peter. (read it again! apply it to yourself!
This verse has a two meanings, the first being documented in verse 11 and the second in verses 14 - 17. They are:[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.
(1) The present body of twelve disciples, were all clean but one, Judas.
(2) He that is already bathed only needs to wash his feet. Put this in perspective of Christ's era when folks walked around with sandals. Even though you may have just bathed, by the time you walk to dinner along the dusty trail, your feet are already dirty again.
You see, as long as we are in the flesh our feet are going to get dirty. But the lesson being taught here has nothing to do with actual dirty feet (as we will see). It means that even though we've been baptized and washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, we are going to fall short and need to have "our feet washed".
Jesus performed a "physical" act to demonstrate a "spiritual" principle, i.e. to give them a visual PICTURE to SEE and understand the teaching He was about to give them.John 13:11
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?
Here it is:
There is no doubt whatsoever that Jesus is Lord and Master. (Note the use of the sacred name again, "I AM".)[13] Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I AM.
If Jesus washes the dirty feet of those who serve Him, we should also wash the dirty feet of those who serve Him. He does not mean to literally get a bowl of water and wash their feet. Again, that was an illustration, a picture to help us understand the spiritual application. (He already said that one among them was not clean, and He wasn't talking about physical dirt, but sin.)[14] If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
When you see a disciple, one of His servants, who is one who has "bathed", but now having "dirty feet", do you "wash them" for them. Are you willing to dress the part, and be a servant to them, and wash their dirty, probably stinky, feet? Jesus Christ set the example for us.[15] For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Note: Some churches have an actual foot washing ceremony because of verse 15. However, Jesus wasn't telling us to actually wash each other's feet, either ceremonially or on a daily basis, which is how often our footsies need to be washed. The instruction had absolutely NOTHING to do with feet. Is it wrong therefore for a church to have a foot washing ceremony? I suppose not, however, in case someone asks, King's Chapel does not have a ceremony.
Notice the use of the word apostolos, i.e. "sent", in this verse. This drives home the point of verse 14: Is not the Lord greater than His servants? Are you one of His servants? So if He is willing to wash the feet of His disciples, the sent forth ones, so ought we.John 13:16
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.
We must first understand these things. Then, having obtained the knowledge, we can be happy, meaning blessed, if we "do them". James has a nice way of elaborating on this.[17] If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
You can leave a foot washing ceremony this way, having washed someone's feet, yet never having ever washed someone's feet.James 1:23-24
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:[24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
So far in chapter 13 we learned that Jesus Christ was willing to be a servant and wash the feet of those who would carry forth the Gospel. This we must all be willing to do, and in fact must DO, if we are to be blessed. To wash someone else's feet requires humility on each other's behalf, and we saw that Peter at first wasn't willing to have his feet washed. So while one must be willing to be a "washer", the other must be willing to be a "washee". And we are NOT instructed to then start washing the rest of the person, because to be baptized once, washed all over, is sufficient. But we all get dirty feet and need to repent, and as brothers and sisters we must wash each other's dirty feet. (as in help each other over come sin.)
Then Jesus told us in verse 17 that we are happy, i.e. blessed, if we "do" these things, and follow His example.
He then redirects the subject back to the one who would betray Him, Judas Iscariot.
Jesus is quoting from Psalm 41:9, the scripture He is about to fulfill.John 13:18
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
Now notice the DETAIL of the prophecy of this event of the Last Supper. Is this not incredible? How could one's faith not be made stronger when they read of that which was written a thousand years before coming to pass with such precision?Psalm 41:9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Judas lifted up his heel against Jesus by delivering up Messiah's heel to the serpent and his children of disobedience who bruised His heel, even nailed it to the cross, according as it was prophesied back in Gen. 3:15.[10] But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
Again, when something is written of or spoken by the Word of God long before it comes to pass, and then we see it come to pass exactly as it is written, it makes His Word REAL, and it greatly increases our faith and trust in Him.Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
John 13:19
Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I AM he.
All those whom He sends speak His voice, even His word.[20] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
This got the troops stirred up![21] When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Before reading the next three verses (especially in archaic 1611 English) it might help to understand where everyone involved is sitting. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, is seated to Jesus' right and Judas is seated to Jesus' left (how fitting indeed). Peter is then seated beyond Judas. Now as verse 13 declares they are all looking around at each other in bewilderment, wondering who Jesus is talking about. John, since he can't see those on the other side of Jesus, then leans forward in front of Jesus and makes eye contact with Peter, who tells John (since John is right there in front of Jesus' bosom) to ask Him who it is. John then leans back toward Jesus with his head across Jesus' shoulder and says, "Lord, who is it?"John 13:22
Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
[23] Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
[24] Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Don't you just love how the King James Version reads?[25] He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Jesus now identifies the betrayer.
A "sop" is a morsel, or a piece of "bread". And so the prophecy of Psalm 41 came to pass both physically, as Judas took of His bread, and spiritually in that Jesus was the "bread" of life.John 13:26
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Jesus has already appealed to Judas' conscience several times by stating that "they [the disciples] are not all clean" (vs. 11) and that He "speaks not of you all" (vs. 18). None of the disciples apparently picked up on it, but Judas knew he had already made a deal with the Pharisees. Jesus then appealed to Judas' heart when He handed him the piece of bread, outwardly marking him as the betrayer. This act of exposure triggered the hardening of Judas' heart, which allowed Satan to add fuel to the evil thoughts already burning in his mind.[27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Now, please don't take this next
comment as a defense of Judas or his actions.
But Judas here is not thinking that delivering Jesus is going to result
in a brutal crucifixion. He is thinking about the big bucks he stands to
gain for the simple act of identifying Jesus (Mat. 26:15). Who knows,
he may have taught; Maybe something good might even come out of it. Those
are just the kinds of thoughts Satan places in one's mind to justify and
rationalize their deeds. He makes it all sound good, just like he told
Adam and Eve that they would be as gods. Sounds good, huh?
Anyway, Jesus knew the thoughts of Judas and so He told him to go do his dirty deed quickly.
Now you may be wondering by now how it is that these disciples just don't "get it"? The only reason we understand is because we're reading all this after the fact. We already know how and in what manner Judas betrayed Christ, and how and in what manner He was murdered. But at this point the disciples have no idea of the brutal crucifixion that Jesus is about to go through (vs. 36), nor do they know "what" the betrayal actually is. So we could say that they are all naively innocent which accounts for their thoughts in the next verse.John 13:28
Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
The disciples may not have figured it out yet, but we see because it had to do with "Judas" they immediately thought it had something to do with "money". However, Judas sure knew.[29] For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
Done.Scripture fulfilled![30] He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
The hour has arrived for the Son of man to be glorified, which also glorifies the Father.John 13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
[32] If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
He told the Jews in John chapter 7 and chapter 8:[33] Little children, yet a little while I AM with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
Jesus now tells His disciples to love one another.John 7:33
Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.[34] Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.
John 8:21
Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
And He loved them enough to wash their dirty feet. This we should also do one to another, even as He set the example for us, for we all sin in the flesh and fall short of the glory of God. Perhaps it is easy to love someone who has no faults. It is quite another matter to love someone who, spiritually speaking, has gotten "dirty feet".John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Too often Christians act like chickens in a chicken house. Those who have witnessed this will agree that it is a awful sight to behold. You see, when a chicken gets hurt and begins to bleed, the other chickens not only don't help it, but they take turns pecking its back until it eventually dies.
On the other hand, people will surely notice that you are not His disciples, i.e. not very Christian like, if you go around pecking your brothers and sisters when they begin to bleed a little or get dirty feet.[35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
This documents what we said about the disciples not realizing the awful sequence of events about to befall the Messiah. However, Jesus knew that Peter would follow Him after He was crucified. Remember when they first met and Jesus said to Peter, "Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone" (Jn. 1:42). Peter would prove to be a "rock solid" apostle, and Christ knew it all along.John 13:36
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
So we see that Peter loved Jesus very much and was willing to do anything for Him.
Though Peter was sincere in His intent he is about to learn a most humbling lesson, and not for him only, but for all of us that we may see ourselves in Peter's shameful experience and cry out with him.[37] Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
When Jesus Christ, the Word of God, says a thing will happen, one thing is for sure...[38] Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
It will happen!
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