~
John 13 – Foot Washing ~
Introduction
~ The Gospel of John contains
numerous references to water. In fact
over half (11 of 21) the chapters reference water. We are looking at these passages in this
series.
Scripture
~ “Now before the Feast of the
Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from
this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved
them to the end. And supper being ended,
the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son,
to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His
hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and
laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet,
and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, are You washing my feet?’
Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand
now, but you will know after this.’
Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’ Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands
and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ‘He
who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are
clean, but not all of you.’ For He knew
who would betray Him; therefore He said, ‘You are not all clean.’
So when He had washed their
feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know
what I have done to you? You call Me
Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I
then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
another’s feet. For I have given you an
example, that you should do as I have done to you. 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. If you know these things, blessed
are you if you do them” (John 13:1-17).
Notes ~ 1. This event occurred in the Upper Room just
before the Jewish celebration of Passover.
2. Primary
transportation of that day was walking on dusty roads in open sandals. Foot washing was an essential part of
personal hygiene.
3. During
group meals individuals were reclined to on side in such a way as their feet
being in close proximity to the person next to them.
4. Our Lord demonstrated
great humility and His servant nature by this act. “The Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
5. Salvation
is a one-time event but the process of continual cleansing from the soils of
life is an on-going process which we call sanctification.
6. As
Christians we are to become like Christ.
When was the last time you washed another believer’s feet
(figuratively)?
The Key Question
~ Do you possess the abundance of
“living water” which is only
available through Jesus Christ.
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW
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