The Gospel of John, 7/3/15
John 13:1-17. The first twelve chapters were about Jesus being "Light". Chapters 13-17 are about His "Love", described in the Upper Room discourse. Chapters 18-21 are Him being "Life".
This scene is not the Lord's Supper. Why doesn't John record the Lord's Supper? There were already Christians who were making a ritual of it, missing the true point. They were more about making a show and going through the motions, when the point is communion with Jesus. The whole blessing of communion is personally knowing the Word of God! It's more important to know Him than to partake of communion. In other words, knowing Him is communing with Him.
We believers should take note that Jesus knew where He came from and knew He was going back to the Father. That's the mindset we should have as well. Now that His public ministry is fading, Jesus turns more to His own disciples in the following chapters. In this section, John records the ultimate lesson in humility: Jesus shows the full extent of His love for us by washing others' feet. This type of love is completely complete, lacking no element. One such element is this illustration of the Greater serving as a slave to the Lesser. Of course, He points out that after one has bathed, he only needs to have his feet washed at the end of the day. The spiritual implications are that once you are truly saved (completely washed clean), you are then only required to confess daily sins. Confessing daily sins seems to be unpopular among believers today. We should allow the Spirit to search our hearts, humble ourselves, and realize our great need of a Savior every day. None of us go a single day without sin. Unconfessed sin is going to hinder our joy and freedom. It will keep us from feeling close to the Lord in communion. It keeps us from enjoying His presence and experiencing His power in our lives.
We must stick out our dirty, stinky feet, and allow Jesus to hold them in His hands. This is a very humbling position to be put in. The perfectly holy King of Kings is kneeling at your feet. He knows where you have walked on this day. But He loves you so much, He wants to restore sweet fellowship with you. He knows you need this feet washing and is willing to do it. And, by the way, it is a truly complete cleansing. He doesn't leave a little grime here or there. If He does the job, it's done right, no doubt about it. Be obedient to put your feet in His hands. Don't go out and just keep doing the same things over and over again.
The funny, ironic thing about this passage, was just before Jesus washed their feet, the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest! (Luke 22:24-27) Oops! Peter will recall learning this lesson in 1Pet.5:5-6. Check out Phillipians 2:5-11 to see Jesus' actions when He left heaven to come to Earth. Don't fall into the trap so many are already in where you are too concerned with fighting for position, recognition, or imposing your own agendas. The Lord opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
