Humility PersonifiedJesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet, John 13:1-17

Jesus begins his farewell…▪There are 89 chapters in all four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John ▪85 of 89 chapters focus on the last three and a half years of Jesus’ life on earth▪29 out of those 85 chapters focus on the final week of Jesus’ life on earth▪Finally, 13 out of 29 deal with the last 24 hours of His life

Jesus begins his farewell…▪Chapters 13 to 17 in the Book of John, apostle John covers the Last Supper▪This passage is a.k.a. “Upper Room Discourse.” ▪At this point, Jesus had less than 18 hours before His crucifixion▪This is a very, very private setting, no public allowed, chosen so He could prepare them for His death et al▪He gave them an unforgettable lesson in humility, andby His actions rebuked their selfishness and pride

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. 5 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.” 12 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.

John 13:1-17, NASB

I. Submission vs. Selfishness▪Remember that John has emphasized the “timetable”▪Vv 1-2, What was this appointed hour?▪The time when He would be glorified thru His death, resurrection, and ascension▪From the human point of view, it meant suffering, death, and defeat; but from the divine point of view, it meant glory

I. Submission vs. Selfishness▪When the servant of God is in the will of God, he is “untouchable” until his work is done▪The Jewish religious rulers could not even arrest Jesus, let alone kill Him, until the right hour had arrived▪While Jesus was in complete submission to the Father’s will, Judas’ mind was head-ing to the path of the ultimate selfishness and ultimate self-destruction

II. A King Washes His Servants’ Feet…▪Vv 3-5, Knowing what was happening, He got up to wash their feet anyway▪Two things to keep in mind:▪The roads were dirt▪They wore sandals

II. A King Washes His Servants’ Feet…▪Remember this?▪Leo didn’t do his homework▪Ancient Israelis ate at “U” shaped coffee- table-height tables, on their stomachs with their feet away from the table▪As they argued over who would be greater, it was the perfect time for a divine display of humility

II. A King Washes His Servants’ Feet…▪Vv 4-12, 4 very im- portant principles we must learn▪1.) Humility is unannounced, V4▪ ‘tapeinophrosyne’▪ It means, “a deep sense of one’s littleness.”

II. A King Washes His Servants’ Feet…▪2.) Humility is will- ing to receive – without embarrassment▪Vv 6-8, Peter resis- ted the Lord, but it only led to rebuke▪False humility is as bad as pride

II. A King Washes His Servants’ Feet…▪3.) Humility is NOT a sign of weakness▪Vv 9-11, Peter’s response swung to the far end▪When a sinner trusts in Him, he is “bathed” all over▪Hebews 10:17-18

17 “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.’

Hebrews 10:17-18, KJV

II. A King Washes His Servants’ Feet…▪However, as the believer walks in this world, it is easy to become defiled ▪He does not need to be bathed all over again ▪He just needs to have the “dirt” cleansed away▪God promises to cleanse when we confess our sins to Him

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9, KJV

II. A King Washes His Servants’ Feet…▪4.) Humility does not play favorites▪V 11, He knew…▪ I think He was pray- ing and washing them▪The example?▪Humility loves the un- lovely

III. Humility to Practice, not just Know▪Vv 12-17, the world thinks “Happiness is being served”▪Real joy comes from serving others in Jesus’ name▪Happiness is the by-product of a life lived in God’s Will▪Serving others, living in holi- ness, obeying God– in this you will find true happiness!

Take Away…▪Happiness results from demonstrating humility, not just learning about it▪“It’s difficult to stand on a pedestal and wash the feet of those below.” Chuck Colson▪You can KNOW you’ve been washed clean, and that its FOREVER!