Pre-screening of Christ's Mission

John 13

verse 1 - ..... Jesus loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Even if Jesus knows that His disciples are quarreling who's the greatest (Luke 22:24) and did not care to wash their dirty, smelly, stinking feet after walking several miles before eating (which was a cultural practice in Middle East), even if he knows that Judas will betray Him few hours from that time, even if Peter will deny Him later on, and even if His disciples will desert Him for a time ..... Jesus showed them what LOVE really is, and He gave them an example (verse 15). Instead of giving a sermon on cleaning dirty feet and 10-steps how to become a servant, He himself stood up and showed them how to serve each other with humility.

verse 2 - And supper being ended (this means supper has just begun and on-going)
verse 4 – Jesus rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took towel and girded Himself.

Imagine everybody is eating and busy arguing, Jesus interrupted on His meal and took the attitude of a servant – by taking off His outer garment and girding a towel around His waist, because no one dared to do the task of a servant. While His disciples were busy conversing, thinking about themselves, thinking what's the next opportunity to brag themselves and ride on Jesus' popularity, Jesus was preparing to show them how to be a servant, how to be humble, and how to love people despite of their failures and weaknesses.

Verse 5 - ..... He poured out water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet

It is interesting to know that Jesus prepared everything and made sure there is water for washing and cleansing His disciples feet. In Luke 22:7-13, He ordered His disciples to look for an upper room for Passover celebration, where a man was “carrying a pitcher of water”.

This is just an ultimate example of loving others and how Jesus loved the world (John 3:16), by humbling Himself even if He is the Master, even if He is God. Love is what the disciples need to continue on Jesus’ ministry. Otherwise, they will all be “clanging cymbals” (1 Cor 13:1), and without Jesus’ character in them, for God is Love.

Jesus involved Himself in the dirt of His disciples’ feet, without saying a thing. That’s how we should love other people – getting involved, not much word, but just doing it.

Verse 8 – Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!"

If we refuse to be washed – constant spiritual cleansing (1 John 1:9), we will not enjoy our fellowship with Christ. Even if we were cleansed by bath (verse 10) – which is being washed and saved in the blood of Jesus, we need constant cleansing because our feet gets dirty, we always sin.

Verse 10 – .... therefore He said, “You are not all clean”

This is a dangerous situation for many people who profess to be in Christ. When in fact, they really are not, like Judas. Same way, many Christians claim to be so, but they are not really in Christ. Meaning, they always look like Christians, speak like Christians, walk like Christians, but not really Christians.

Despite all these, Jesus loved everybody …. Showing that we must love even our enemies. For who knows, they can always come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, like Saul (Paul). Unfortunately, Judas took the wrong decision and missed the work of Christ.

Verse 16 – Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

Even if Jesus had brought down Himself through humility, He is still the Lord – He is still the God. Yet He came down and be like us that we can call Him friend (John 15:15).

Summary:

He took out His kingship outer garment, and wrapped himself in humanity’s linen towel, taking the form of a servant – but He is still God, to wash us and cleanse us from our sins (our dirty feet). He did this to give us example of servanthood, humility, and love - to God and to others, even our enemies (even our Judas’!). To wash their feet (forgive them), and make it dry (to love them without condition). Verse 12, “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again”. After coming to wash our sins, He rose again from the dead, He took back His kingship garment and sat down at the right hand of God – waiting for us to eat with Him again and have fellowship with Him. Meanwhile, we do communion here on earth to remember and prepare ourselves for that bigger and better feast with Jesus in heaven.

What does it say?

• About God’s Love for us (verse 1) – remember that Jesus is few hours from death (during passover feast, which is illegal according to Jewish law) and He wants to leave an important message and thought to His disciples.

What does it mean?

• God loved us that He came to become a servant, took out His garment of heavenly kingship, wrapped Himself in the towel of humanity, offered Himself for us that we might become clean (righteous before God), even while we were yet sinners (proud, bragging, unwilling to serve like His disciples).

What does it teach?

• That we should love one another too, and by that, people would know that we are His disciples. We too should take the form of servant and wash others (forgive them) and love them (make them dry and comfortable) – verse 5.

What does it require?

• Willingness to be cleaned – we cannot enjoy fellowship with the Lord if we have dirty feet (sin in our heart). Don’t be the attitude of Peter (during that time).
• Humility – we should be humble and available to be a servant of Christ. Not like Peter who had the arrogance, and even want to take advantage the goodness of the Lord. We are not to abuse and take advantage of the goodness of others too. Yet, we know Peter had matured through the years and followed Christ faithfully even to his death being crucified upside down - thinking he's not worthy being crucified like Christ.
• Constant communion with Christ and with fellow believers. Sit back and dine with Jesus at the bread of His Word regularly.
• Know that Jesus is still our God and Master, even if He called us friends.