The Gospel of John
Chapter 13
Part II
4) He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5) After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded.
QUESTION: Why would the One Who knew Who He was, this very God-man, do such a thing as this?
Luke 22:14-15; 24-27) And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
15) And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
24) And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25) And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26) But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27) For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
QUESTION: What’s the lesson that you and I need to learn from these passages?
1 Corinthians 6:1-8) Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2) Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4) If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5) I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6) But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7) Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather [suffer yourselves to] be defrauded?
8) Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that [your] brethren.
QUESTIONS: Is there a chance that one of us Christians would ever allow ourselves to be taken advantage of by another “Christian”? After all, isn’t that what lawyers are for, so we don’t have to be taken advantage of?
Would we ever serve one who we think should feel privileged to serve us?
1 John 2:6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
NOTE: We judge one’s greatness by his/her accomplishments; God judges by one’s willingness to serve others.
Philippians 2:1-5) If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.
3) [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Romans 12:10) [Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
NOTE: Politicians remind us often that they’ve been public servants for years. Most, however, aren’t servants at all. They feel privileged, and they feel above the rest of us. They do what they do for greed and power, not to serve.
Our service for one another must be motivated by genuine love for one another.
By the way, if Jesus washed the feet of those who were submissive to Him, would it hurt a husband to fetch a cup of coffee for his wife?
Husbands should not expect wives to serve them; wives should not expect husbands to serve them. Rather, they should look for ways to serve the other.
Pastors should not expect parishioners to serve them; parishioners should not expect pastors to serve them. Rather, they should look for ways to serve the other.
6) Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7) Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
NOTE: Peter didn’t understand this whole issue. He was too proud to be served by someone of his status, or better. He probably had no problem allowing household servants to serve him, but not those who were above servitude. Do we treat employees at WalMart like servants, expecting them to clean up after us? Do we treat waitresses like servants, thinking it proper to vent on them when things aren’t exactly the way we wanted them? “Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather [suffer yourselves to] be defrauded?” (1 Corinthians 6:7)
These are the lessons that Peter would catch on to at a later time. These are the lessons you and I need to learn.
ANOTHER NOTE: I’m not suggesting that we should allow charlatans to steal our money. I’m talking about attitude. If a restaurant gets your order wrong, you have a right to have it corrected; but you should do that in a friendly, non-offensive, Christian manner. Treating someone with disrespect because your patience has been tried isn’t the Christian way. Always give others the respect you want them to give you.