John 13, The Christian life will be hard with failures and disappointment, and those who love others in service to God will glorify Him

John 13:1-17 (NIV) It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.


2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.


6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"


7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."


8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."


Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."


9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"


10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."  11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.


12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.


• What does Jesus know that the disciples have not yet realized?
• This is his last meal with them
• Tomorrow he will die
• So if you were going to die tomorrow, where would you be?
• If you are younger than Jesus (33), then you would probably be with family
• If you are married, you would be with your wife and children
• Jesus spends his last moments with those he loved the most (his disciples)
• If you are Jesus and know that the disciples will be on their own (so to speak) soon, what would you do?
• You would emphasize probably the most important teachings or the most necessary teachings
• So, this is Jesus' last charge to his disciples. What is most important for Jesus to convey right before his death? This is what chapters 13-17 are all about
• The synoptic gospels have very little of the Passover conversation, and none have this event. Luke records a discussion about who would be the greatest (Luke 22:24), and while it would appear to come after the meal, the words "also a dispute arose" could imply that it happened that evening. In which case, this event in John may be Jesus' response to the discussion
• Luke 22:24-25 (NIV) Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.
• The very first thing Jesus does is wash the disciple's feet. John apparently recognizes the significance, but why does Jesus consider this such an important thing as to use his last remaining moments washing their feet?
• It certainly can relate to the pride discussion
• It seems to emphasize servant leadership
• The world emphasizes status and position
• Jesus even said "you call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord'," so there will be differences of stature
• Everyone is supposed to serve
• Christianity is characterized by servant-leadership (the additional language of verse 16. "I tell you the truth…," emphasize the importance of the statement)
• It happens in the ministry and in the home. Others are more important than self
• In Jewish culture, servants washed the feet
• A Jewish slave (paying off a debt) was not allowed to do the task. It was below him
• Only Gentile servants could wash someone's feet
• To this day, Arab societies rank themselves among each other by tribe status
• Can you hear the silence in the room as Jesus washes their feet, at least until he comes to Peter?
• What are they thinking?
• What is Peter thinking?
• There is another reason beside emphasizing servant-leadership that Jesus washes their feet, what is it?
• To show the true extent of his love
• He loved them so much that nothing was beneath him or required too much sacrifice to provide
• If you really love someone, you make sacrifices for the other
• If you really only love yourself, you make decisions based on what is best for you, not for others
• Incidentally, in verse 15, Jesus calls the act, an example. There is no implication that this should be a sacrament
• APPLICATION:
• Do you love the other believers?
• Would you sacrifice for them?
• Would you give up something you wanted to do on Tuesday to meet with your brothers and sisters in fellowship?
• Do you say you love, in word and deed, but deep down you know it is not true in your life?


John 13:18-31 (NIV) "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'


19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."


21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."


22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."


25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"


26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.


"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.


• Jesus is pained that one of them would betray him. This is one of those things people will remember later on, but is there a teaching moment in it?
• When Jesus told them he would be betrayed by one of them, what was their reaction?
• One, some thought it might be them (this is healthy introspection)
• Matt 26:21-22 (NIV) And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." // 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
• Two, no one had figure it out. It was not obvious. Meaning: you will be in church with people who don't even believe the gospel and you will not notice the difference
• Three, John and Peter really wanted to know. We are not sure why. This may explain Peter's outburst in a few moments
• Judas' role as a treasurer suggests what? That everyone trusted him
• Judas was given the bread dipped in wine first
• This was customary for the honored guest
• He also was sitting near Jesus for Jesus to have started with him
• Probably on his left, also a seat of honor, since John was on the right and leaned into Jesus chest
• APPLICATION: The Christian life will not always be easy. And some people who are close to you will disappoint you. The key is that you do not live your Christian life on the basis of others but rather on the basis of a personal relationship with God. In other words, it is not what others are doing that define our actions, but what God asks us to do


John 13:31-38 (NIV) When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.


33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.


34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."


36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"


Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."


37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."


38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!


• Now it is an even tighter group. Jesus talks first about glorifying the Father. How do we glorify God?
• Jn 17:4 says that it is by finishing the work the Father gave him to do
• We glorify God by finishing the work God gave us to do
• APPLICATION: What is my work? How do I figure it out? Does my life glorify God?
• Jesus doesn't repeat a previous instruction but rather gives a new command, "love one another." What is the significance of the command at this point in Jesus' ministry?
• This is the expectation of Jesus in his absence
• The command is not new ("love the Lord God and love your neighbor as yourself"), but what about it is new for the Christian?
• The Christian will be given the power to live it out
• Love would be the distinguishing mark of Jesus' disciples
• What is love?
• 1 Cor 13:4-7 (NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
• It puts others ahead of self
• At this point Peter jumps into the discussion. Maybe he wanted to correct something he said earlier. Either way, he wants to make the point that he is fully committed. What is wrong with Peter's statement? Why does he fail?
• The statement is emotional
• The statement is prideful
• Good desires are no substitute for good actions
• APPLICATION:
• We will fail at times. We must repent, get back up, and continue in the work God gave for us to do
• Be careful of the emotional moments on the mountain, they are almost always followed by the dark trips through the valleys. The key is not to avoid the mountains or the valley but to sustain yourself through both.
• You do that with good habits (habits based on love)
• You do that with involvement with other believers (people more important than self)
• You that through service (servant leadership)
• You that through good ministry (loving others)