The Gospel of John Lesson 49 (10-06-2013) John 13:1-15

The Gospel of John Lesson 49 (10-06-2013)

Lesson 49 – John 13:1-15

Over the next few chapters Jesus will demonstrate and teach His disciples what this new Kingdom will look like. As yet, these are foreign principles to them. After finishing dinner, vs. 3-6, Jesus does something very strange and out of character to them. It wasn’t out of character to Jesus, but it was definitely out of character to them and the world system that they were use to.

Dr. Luke records some interesting details in his gospel that are not found in John’s account concerning this event and this dinner. I have at times been curious as to why Jesus chose this time to demonstrate this principle of servant hood by washing the disciple’s feet. I understand the need for Jesus to teach this principle to His followers, but have always been somewhat curious as to ‘why now’?

It is true that the hour was late and teaching this principle to them was important, but was this just one of those must teach principles to share and teach them prior to His departure, or, was there something that prompted Him to demonstrate this very important Kingdom principle? After all in just a few hours He would tell them that He had many other things to instruct them in that they were not ready to understand and receive as yet, but the time being so short they would be taught to them later by the Holy Spirit of Truth who was to come soon after Jesus’ departure. Why was this lesson not included in the ‘to be taught later’ group? As we will see Jesus will show them in action this principle now, but they will really not be able nor ready to practically apply it without the help of the yet to come Holy Spirit.

In Luke chapter 22 we get what Paul Harvey would call the rest of the story. In Luke 22:24-7 we read the background conversation that went on that night. While Jesus was sharing with them important and timely things like what was soon to come and instructing them in things like the institution the Lord’s Supper, what were His disciples doing and talking about? V. 24 of Luke 22 tells us that there was actually strife at the table and that they were having somewhat of a heated debate at the table at that moment. What were they debating about that was more important than what Jesus had to share with them?? Luke tells us that they were debating about who would be the greatest among them in the Kingdom that was shortly to come.

Imagine that! Here Jesus was trying to share with them such incredible principles concerning His coming Kingdom and they were more concerned with who was going to have the most prominent and visible position in that Kingdom. In knowing this as background it makes good sense for Jesus seeing these actions get up from the table and demonstrate to them servant hood as found in John chapter 13.

This was not apparently an isolated incident concerning debating this topic with these guys. They appeared to debate this topic quite commonly. We see Jesus address this issue with them in the beginning of Matthew chapter 18 where they come to Him asking Jesus who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. One could take the request from His disciples here in Matthew 18 a couple of ways. One might think that they were asking this because they were aspiring to do a good job and succeed at hitting the mark and please the master wanting to know what others have done making them great in the Kingdom and then following them trying to emulate them and their example.

However, it appears that this was not the case. It appears that their request here in Matthew 18 had the same basis and intent as their question to Jesus in Luke 22:24 during their last supper together. They were wanting to know in reality which of them would be honored as number one…the top of the heap…the head cheese…the one closest to God in ability…better than the rest… receiving top honors.

They must have been very surprised at Jesus’ response in Matthew 18 not recognizing their great ability and promise, but instead telling them in essence that all that ability is worthless unless there be found in their essence and actions the humility and simplicity of intent of duty of a child, who does something not for being recognized or seen, but just because its natural right for the present. I am sure that the Disciples like me had trouble fully understanding Jesus’ example and analogy of the child and the Kingdom hearing what He said, but then remarking something like ‘I know that there is something important here that He is trying to teach and say to me, but what is it?’ Understanding and applying this Kingdom principle of being as a child in a practical way is not easy. Its practical meaning is often illusive and vague in meaning to us.

It is so natural for us, as it was for the Disciples, to want to be recognized by the Master or others for our stuff…our abilities, making sure to be seen and recognized for it. It makes us even think more highly of ourselves if we are a grade above those around us. It appears that this topic was a frequent point of conversation and discussion as we find reference to it also in Mk 10:35-45 and Mt. 20:20-8 seeing even the family members got into the debate. Less than a day before the Cross the debate concerning this important topic to the Disciples continues and would continue to come up with Jesus’ disciples and followers throughout the history of the Church.

Did His Disciples finally get the point Jesus was making here at this late hour found in chapter 13 of John? You would have to say not yet, for we see Simon Peter’s response which is usually representative of the group in Jn. 13:6-10. In these verses we see him in essence arguing with Jesus about the details of His example.

Usually what Peter was saying out loud was what the others were thinking. However, Jesus’ response to Peter is somewhat stern and pointed. He was not so patient with him. In essence He tells Peter to be quiet and get it! It was time for Peter to be quiet and for a change be humble and heed Jesus’ instruction for there was an important lesson in what Jesus was doing. Again time was indeed short. This was not a time to argue methodology. Peter needed to understand and get the intent or His example.

The Disciples would eventually get it however. In a short time we will see the tables turn and find the Disciples in Jesus’ position finally understanding Jesus’ example of humility and servant hood attempting to teach the same principle to a new crop of followers that were to come after them. Jesus would leave them with the example. The events that were to follow and the advent of the Holy Spirit’s coming would perfect His examples, purpose and meaning in them.

But, there is possible even more meaning, symbolism and deep truth in the interaction and dialog that went on between Peter and Jesus in vs. 6-10 in chapter 13. In these verses Jesus made some strong comments to Peter concerning what He was doing and Peter’s relationship with Him. The deeper truth that may be evident here was that Peter even at this point did not fully understand and receive Jesus’ offer of pardon and forgiveness evident to his reaction to Jesus serving Peter in this manner.

Even though his reaction would have probably been a common one, it was still a prideful one, not accepting the Lord’s work on his behalf. At first he did not want to receive Jesus’ work on his behalf and then after arguing with Jesus about what He was doing he wanted to accept what Jesus was offering on his terms, essentially in reality still not receiving what Jesus was offering at all.

Jesus says something significant in v. 10. He says, “The one that has bathed does not need to wash except for his feet” and He continues by telling Peter and most of the others that they were already clean, that is all except one. He repeats in v. 11 that not all have been washed.

Some Bible commentators believe that the bath that He is referring to here is the full cleansing of salvation and that the washing of the feet could possibly refer to the ongoing and continual cleansing of the believer that is needed following conversion. This analogy seems to correlate to John’s message found in another one of his letters in I John chapter 1 where in vs. 5-7 John talks about Jesus’ blood cleansing us from all sin establishing salvation followed by vs. 8-10 advocating continued confession of sin restoring fellowship. If this symbolism is what Christ was referring to then His example also infers that we are to help each other to be clean and to stay pure.

We do not know who Jesus started with when He began this example of servant hood washing their feet. Many scholars have offered their opinion, some saying that He probably started with Judas, others say that He probably started with several other disciples before reaching Peter and others still believe that it was Peter himself that Jesus began with. However, if the former analogy stated in the previous paragraph is accurate saying those being clean need only to have their feet washed then the question that I would pose is…Did Jesus actually end up washing Judas’ feet at all for it was clear that Jesus was referring to him as not being clean? We can only speculate.

In reading John’s Gospel it appears that Peter may not have been first in getting his feet washed, v. 5, but the Gospels do not exactly record this detail making it fully clear. However, many scholars believe that Jesus’ choice of washing one of the dirtiest parts of the body may have paralleled the Cross and by Peter’s reaction it was unthinkable that the Lord would even consider dealing with such a despised area of the body. Peter’s denial of Jesus’ offer implied self sufficiency of a cleansing that he desperately needed. It is true that this act was symbolic, but it did contain meaning that had a practical application. Without receiving its paralleled meaning Peter would miss eternal truths.

In vs. 12-7, after giving them this example of cleansing Jesus gets back up and resumes His rightful place of Master at the table. This indeed has striking symbolism to the work on the Cross and after Jesus’ resurrection being an example of Him resuming His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. However, in sitting down at the table He leaves nothing to chance and explains the meaning of His actions to them. He tells them that this was an example of servant hood and that if He was willing to do this for them that they should also be willing to follow His example and serve each other in the same fashion.

But, one point still remains concerning Jesus’ foot washing example. If His example here truly was analogous to His work and cleansing on the Cross then in this servant example a death to self would be implied. We remember in the middle of chapter 12 that Jesus shared this example with them, Jn. 12:23-6. In this example of servant hood of washing their feet He in essence was calling them to die to self so that another may receive cleansing and live. As stated in a previous lesson all of them with the exception of John would in the end die a martyr’s death for their faith so that others receiving the Gospel would indeed live.