John Ch13v1-17 - Washed Clean To Serve

Good morning everyone, nice to see you today.

And please turn in your Bibles to John's Gospel, chapter 13.

John's Gospel, chapter 13.

So if you've been with us over the last little while, you'll know that we were looking at

the resurrection of Jesus Christ and those who had encountered the risen Jesus and the

difference Jesus had made.

And now we're going to jump back into the middle of John's Gospel.

Chapters 13 to chapter 17 are really about 24 hours in the life of Jesus.

Chapters 1 to 12 is about three years, but chapters 13 to 17 is really about 24 hours just before

Jesus is arrested and crucified.

Jesus spends time with his disciples, teaching them and preparing them for his departure.

So over the next few weeks, we're going to be looking at that section, chapters 13 to 17,

as Jesus prepares the disciples and teaches us through his word what it means to follow him.

So we're going to read from verse 1 of chapter 13 to verse 17.

Let us hear God's word.

It was just before the Passover festival.

Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.

Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God.

So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, wrapped a towel around his waist.

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.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,

Lord, are you going to wash my feet?

Jesus replied,

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

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

Jesus answered,

Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.

Then, Lord, Simon Peter replied,

Not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well.

Jesus answered,

Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet.

Their whole body is clean,

and you are clean,

though not every one of you.

For he knew who was going to betray him,

and that was why he said,

Not everyone was clean.

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.

You call me teacher and Lord,

and rightly so,

for that is what I am.

Now that I, your Lord and teacher,

have washed your feet,

you should wash one another's feet.

I have set you an example

that you should do as I have done for you.

Very truly I tell you,

no servant is greater than his master,

nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Now that you know these things,

you will be blessed if you do them.

Well, let's pray as we ask for God's help.

Again, Father,

we say thank you for this word that we have read.

A word written years ago,

preserved and kept for us today,

that we might learn what it is

to be followers of the Lord Jesus,

the King of Kings.

I pray that as we hear your word,

you would change us

and mold us

to be servant-hearted,

loving others

as you loved us.

May you do that work in us

for our good.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Have you washed your hands?

I can still hear my mother say it.

It was a very simple rule

that we had in our house.

Before sitting down for dinner,

you had to wash your hands.

The problem was,

my mother's standard of cleanliness

was a lot different to mine.

Sticking your hands under a running tap

for less than a second

was not enough.

I would be sent back to the bathroom,

use soap and water,

and dry your hands.

Now having dirty hands

not only meant no dinner,

it also meant

I couldn't sit at the table

with my family.

My hands needed to be cleaned first.

Well in our text,

Jesus is washing,

not his hands,

but he's cleaning

his disciples' feet.

But this isn't just

a physical washing

that is taking place.

It's a much deeper

and greater washing

that we all need.

You might have picked it up

as we read.

Look at the end of verse 8.

Jesus said,

unless I wash you,

you have no part

with me.

You see,

when we are washed

by Jesus,

we can enter

into the full fellowship

of God

as Jesus

cleans us

so we can enjoy

that relationship

with the Father

and the Son.

So how can we be

made clean today

and what difference

will that washing

make to our life?

well first

notice

that this washing

is an act

of love.

Do you see it there

at the end of verse 1?

Having loved

his own

who were in the world,

he loved them

to the end.

Jesus loved

his disciples.

He had spent

the last three years

with them.

He cared for them

deeply,

but now he would

show them

just how much

he loved them.

He would love

them to the

end.

A young man

might declare

his love

for a woman,

but to show

the extent

of his love,

he goes and buys

an engagement ring.

We could say

he loves her

to the end.

A husband

may love

his wife,

but to show

the depth

of his love,

he cares

for her

all the way

through her

illness.

We could say

he loved her

to the end.

Well Jesus

is saying

to us

and to his

disciples,

I love you.

And to demonstrate

the extent

of that love,

to reveal

the depth

of that love.

End of verse 1,

he loved them

to the end.

As we will see

in just a moment,

Jesus showed

his love

for us

by becoming

a servant

to wash us

clean

and to give us

an example

to follow.

He showed us

his love

by becoming

a servant

servant,

to wash us

clean

so that we

might become

servants

to one another.

He loved us

to the very

end.

So let's

together

unpack

this act

of love.

First,

Jesus loves

us

by becoming

a servant.

He loves

us

by becoming

a servant.

Look at

verse 4

with me.

So this is

during the

meal.

Jesus got

up from

the meal,

took off

his outer

clothing

and wrapped

a towel

around his

waist.

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.

Now the

scene here

is both

shocking

and

embarrassing.

In our

culture,

as I'm

sure it is

when you

go home,

we'll sit

round a

table

to eat.

Well in

ancient

cultures,

people would

eat by

lying on

the floor.

So if you

could imagine

in your

house where

you have

your dining

table or

where you

eat,

instead there

is a

great big

carpet in

the middle

of it

with food

and dishes.

And then

each person

would lie

with their

head towards

the rug,

in towards

where the

food was,

with their

feet pointing

away from

the rug.

It was a

perfect way

to eat,

relax and

chat with

your head

on your

arm,

leaning in,

eating away

and how

are you

doing,

how was

the day

and so

on and

so forth.

But let's

remember,

people didn't

wear socks

or shoes

either.

they wore

sandals.

That meant

your feet

got sweaty

and dirty

in a very

hot climate.

Bits of

sheep and

goats'

poo got

stuck between

your toes.

They were

smelly and

dirty feet.

So when

you took up

your place

for dinner

around the

rug and

to eat

the food,

the servant

of the

house would

come around

and wash

everybody's

feet.

We don't

want bad

smells at

the dinner

table or

dinner rug.

Well,

just as

Jesus was

about to

wash his

feet,

wash the

disciples'

feet,

you could

imagine what

the disciples

must have

thought.

This is a

servant's

job.

This is

reserved for

the lowest

of the low.

it must

have been

that there

was no

servant in

attendance

that day

because,

well,

the disciples

couldn't be

bothered to

wash each

other's

feet.

But here

Jesus does.

Jesus gets

himself ready,

pours the

bowl of

water,

and began

to wash

their feet.

But the

real shock

comes when

we realise

who Jesus

is.

Look back

in verse

three.

Jesus knew

that the

father had

put all

things under

his power

and that he

had come

from God

and was

returning to

God.

John is

telling us

that this

is not

just a

mere human

being.

This is

God in

the flesh

with absolute

power over

all things.

The power

that created

the universe

and sustains

and provides

all things.

That power

was with

Jesus.

He's telling

us God

is present

with Jesus.

Now with

that in

mind,

how would

you finish

verse

three?

Let's read

verse three

again.

Jesus knew

that the

father had

put all

things under

his power

and that

he had

come from

God

and was

returning

to God.

So he

demanded

that he be

treated with

honour and

respect.

So he

ensured that

he was

served

first.

No.

Verse

four.

He got

up from

the meal,

took off

his outer

clothing,

and wrapped

a towel

around his

waist and

began to

wash feet.

Do you

see what's

going on

here?

God in

the person

of Jesus

began to

wash dirty,

pooey,

smelly feet.

feet.

Imagine our

president,

Catherine

Connolly,

hosting a

banquet for

distinguished

guests.

Just before

the food is

served, the

president runs

into the

kitchen, puts

on an apron

and a nice

pair of

yellow

marigold

gloves, and

begins to

serve food

and wash

up and

come out

with other

food, sweating

in her

forehead and

placing food

before them.

It'd be

shocking.

Imagine the

headlines around

the world.

Presidents

are served.

They don't

do the

serving.

Well, as we

peer into

this room, as

we see this

meal taking

place, as

we see

Jesus, we

see God,

the creator

of the

universe, from

all time, from

beginning to

end, Lord

of all,

washing dirty,

smelly feet.

Is that

your God?

We see

Jesus

saying, I

have come to

serve you,

not to

demand of

you.

I have

come to

give to

you, and

not to

crush you.

In fact,

Jesus came

to wash

us, and

clean us.

so Jesus

loves us by

becoming a

servant, and

second, Jesus

loves us by

washing us

clean.

Let's pick up

the conversation

in verse

six.

he came to

Simon Peter,

who said to

him, Lord,

are you

going to

wash my

feet?

Servants

do that.

You can't

do that.

Verse

seven,

Jesus

replied, you

do not

realize now

what I am

doing, but

later you

will

understand.

No, said

Peter, you

shall never

wash my

feet.

Jesus

answered, unless

I wash

you, you

have no

part with

me.

You see,

clearly there

is something

else going

on.

It's not

just about

the physical

washing of

feet.

This is a

sign of a

deeper and

greater

cleaning that

must take

place.

So what

does this

foot washing

signify?

What does

it all

mean?

Well, the

prophets spoke

about it.

To help

us, let's

go back to

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36 · chapter mention

chapter 36.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36 · chapter mention

chapter 36.

So keep

your finger

in John

13 and

go back

to Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36 · chapter mention

chapter 36.

If somebody

has a page

number, that

would help.

8, 6, 7.

No?

Okay.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36 · chapter mention

chapter 36

and we'll

be looking

at verse

24.

Now, just

some context

here.

God's people

had been warned

that if they

continued to

turn away

from God,

they would

be taken

into exile.

And this

physical

separation,

this exile

from the

land,

mirrored

their spiritual

separation

from God.

and into

this context,

the prophet

Ezekiel

comes to

speak of

God's

promise

of renewal.

Now, look

carefully

and listen

carefully to

the language

that Ezekiel

uses.

Pick it up

in verse

24.

God says,

For I will

take you

out of the

nations

and I will

gather you

from all

the countries

and bring

you back

into your

own land.

So the

physical

separation

is now

being

reconciled

as they

come back

to God.

Verse 25,

I will

sprinkle

clean water

on you

and you

will be

clean

and I

will cleanse

you from

all your

impurities

and from

all your

idols.

Verse 28,

clean

then you

will live

in the

land I

gave to

your

ancestors

and you

will be

my

people

and I

will be

your

God.

I will

save you

from all

your

uncleanness.

You see,

this idolatry

that needs

cleaned

is all

about us

replacing

God

with

something

else

or

someone

else.

You see,

we live

as if

we're

God.

We act

as if

we're

the one

with

absolute

power.

My

life,

my

choice,

no one

is going

to tell

me

what to

do.

But all

that does

is separate

us

from

God.

We've

become

unclean,

we've

become

dirty,

and the

only way

that we

can be

brought

back

into

fellowship

with

God

is if

we are

cleansed.

which is

exactly

what God

promises

us to

do.

Look at

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36:33

36

verse

33.

This is

what the

sovereign

Lord

says,

on the

day I

cleanse

you

from

all

your

sins.

So

here is

a

promised

washing

that's

going to

restore

and

renew,

a

cleansing

that's

going to

bring

about

a new

life,

a new

beginning

and a

fresh

start.

But how

will this

promised

cleansing

actually

take

place?

Well,

let's

go back

to

John

John 13 · chapter mention

chapter

13.

You see,

as Jesus

is there

with the

bowl of

water

washing

the

disciples'

feet,

Jesus

in a

sense

was

saying,

I

am

the

one

who

was

promised

!

And I

am the

one

who's

come

to

sprinkle

clean

water

on

you.

I

have

come

to

cleanse

you

internally,

to

rid

you

of

your

impurity,

of your

idolatry.

But how

would Jesus

actually

clean us?

Does he

get out a

bowl of

soap and

water and

say,

that's it,

you're

cleaned?

No,

Jesus

will

clean

us

by

his

death.

Look at

chapter

13,

verse 1.

Jesus

knew

that the

hour had

come for

him to

leave this

world and

go to

the

Father.

Jesus

here is

talking about

his

death.

In

just a

few

hours'

time,

he would

be hung

on a

cross.

The

hour,

the

time of

his

death

and the

cross

is

about

to

happen.

Having

loved

his

own

who

were

in

the

world,

he

loved

them

to

the

end.

He loved

them to

the

fullest.

He loved

them by

going to

the cross

and dying

for them.

As

Jesus

would say,

greater

love has

no one

than this,

to lay

down one's

life for

one's

friends.

You see,

we're to

make a

connection

here.

The

external

washing

of the

disciples'

feet by

Jesus

is a

sign of

the

internal

washing

Jesus

achieved

through

his

death.

In

other

words,

we are

made

clean

by the

self-sacrificing

death of

Jesus

on the

cross.

As a

servant,

Jesus

enters into

the world

to take

our

place,

to die

for you

and for

me,

taking my

sin on

himself,

my

impurity,

my

uncleanness,

and making

it all

his own,

and in

its place

giving us

his purity,

his

cleanliness.

By his

death,

he washes

us

clean.

You see,

this is a

wonderful

picture,

because all

of us have

done things

that have

made us

unclean.

We have

lived lives

that have

left us

dirty,

and no

matter how

much we

try,

we cannot

remove that

stain of

that night

that went

too far,

that conversation

that ended

in a triad

of abuse,

that episode

in my

life that

spun out

of control.

Sometimes,

we actually

take a

physical

shower or

a bath

in an

attempt to

somehow

scrub away

guilt and

shame.

Have you

ever done

that?

Or maybe

you have

that buried

so deep

within your

life that

you're afraid

to admit

it or to

say anything

because God

will despise

you and

reject you.

Well,

look again

into this

room.

See this

meal that

is taking

place.

See Jesus,

the God

man with

absolute

power,

becoming a

servant

to wash

us clean.

You see,

by turning

to Jesus,

we're not

crushed,

we're made

clean.

we're not

rejected,

we're washed.

He gave

his life

for you

and for

me,

that we

would be

welcomed

into that

pure love

of the

Father and

the Son

to enjoy

him

forever.

So,

are you

clean?

look at

verse 10

with me.

Jesus

answered,

those who

have had a

bath need

only to

wash their

feet.

Their whole

body is

clean,

and you

are clean

though not

every one

of you,

for he

knew who

was going

to betray

him,

and that

was why

he said

not

everyone

was

clean.

You see,

Jesus sees

and knows

our hearts.

He can

peer right

into my

soul now,

and he

knows what's

on your

heart right

now.

But if

we have

come in

trust to

Jesus,

we have

been made

clean,

no blemish

remains,

every sin,

past,

present,

and future,

has been

washed

away.

But maybe

you are

here and

you're

weighed

down by

your sin,

bogged

down with

guilt and

shame of

the past.

Well,

don't fear

Jesus.

Come to

him,

sit as it

were at

the table,

and let

him serve

you.

Let him

wash you,

let him

clean you,

confess

your sins

to him,

and he

will make

you pure,

so that

you too

can enjoy

the pure

love of

the Father

and the

Son.

Let him

wash you,

for that

is why

he came.

God

so Jesus

loves us

by

becoming

a

servant.

He

loves

us

by

washing

us

clean.

And

third,

Jesus

loves

us

by

leaving

an

example.

Can you

turn up the

volume just a

little?

I'm raising

my voice too

much,

competing with

the rain.

Thank you.

And there

it's dying.

Isn't that

wonderful?

verse 12.

When he had

finished washing

their feet,

he had put on

his clothes and

returned to

his place.

Do you

understand what

I have done

for you?

Jesus asked

them.

You call me

teacher?

You want to

learn from

me?

You call me

Lord?

You say you

want to obey

me?

And rightly

so, for that

is what I

am.

And now

that I

am your

Lord and

teacher,

have washed

your feet,

so you

should also

wash one

another's

feet.

I have

set you

an example

that you

should do

as I

have done

for you.

Can we

hear what

Jesus is

saying?

I have

loved you

by serving

you,

so you

must serve

one another.

So next

Sunday,

who's on

welcome?

Hands up?

Oh Mary,

Mary and

maybe somebody

else.

You must

wash people's

feet as they

come in the

door,

right?

Well, not

necessarily,

thankfully.

We don't

wear sandals

and we

don't eat

and we

eat sitting

at a table,

so it

wouldn't make

sense for us

to be washing

each other's

feet.

However, the

principle is

we are

meant to

serve one

another with

humble love.

So two

things to

consider what

it means to

follow the

example of

Jesus as

we serve

one another.

Firstly,

no one

is above

being a

servant.

None of

us here can

say,

I'm not

a servant.

If we

have been

cleaned by

Jesus,

he has

cleaned you

to bring

you into

the sphere

of serving.

Look at

verse 16.

Very

truly I

tell you,

no servant

is greater

than his

master,

nor is a

messenger

greater than

the one

who sent

him.

if Jesus

who has

been given

all power

over all

things,

if Jesus

the God

man takes

the lowest

position

possible to

serve us,

then I

am not

above the

position of

servant.

In fact,

we are all

to assume

the position

of servant.

We live

our lives

as servants.

Do you

remember how

the apostle

Paul put

it?

We had

it read

to us

at the

beginning

of our

time

together.

Philippians

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2.

Let me

remind you

of the

words.

Philippians

Philippians 2:5

chapter 2

verse 5.

In your

relationships

with one

another,

have the

same

mindset

as

Christ

Jesus.

Do you

get that?

In our

relationships

with one

another,

have the

same

mindset

as

Christ

Jesus.

Well,

what was

that?

Well,

who,

being in

very nature

God,

did not

consider

equality

with God

something to

be used

to his

own

advantage,

rather he

made himself

nothing by

taking the

very nature

of a

servant

and being

made in

human

likeness

and being

found in

appearance as

a man,

he humbled

himself

by becoming

obedient to

death,

even death

on a

cross.

That is

the mindset

we are to

have.

So when we

arrive on a

Sunday morning,

come as a

servant,

come ready

to give,

come ready

humbly to

love one

another.

During the

week,

plan,

how am I

going to

serve the

church family?

As Jesus

said,

I have set

an example

that you

should do

as I have

done for

you.

You see,

if I think

I am above

the place of

servanthood,

servanthood,

it is saying

I am actually

above the

Lord Jesus

Christ.

I am better

than him.

Oh no,

we are not.

He loved

us and

washed us

and cleaned

us so

that we

can serve

one another

in love.

So no one

is above

being a

servant.

And second,

no one

is below

being

served.

No one

is below

being served.

Look at

who

Jesus

served

in this

meal.

Go back

to verse

one.

Jesus

knew

that the

hour had

come for

him to

leave this

world and

go to

the

Father.

Verse

three,

Jesus

knew

that the

Father had

put things

all under

his power.

Verse

11,

Jesus

knew

who was

going to

betray

him and

that is

why he

said not

everyone

was clean.

Jesus

knew

all that

was going

to take

place.

This

isn't a

surprise

to Jesus.

He knows

what's

around the

corner and

Jesus knew

what Judas

was going

to do.

But that

didn't

stop Jesus

washing

Judas'

feet.

He made

no distinction

as he went

round that

group of

disciples.

He served

them all

and he

came to

Judas and

he washed

his smelly

dirty feet

too.

You see

sometimes

we can

have the

mindset that

says

oh no

I can't

serve them.

They are

so ungrateful.

Why should

I ever

serve them

after what

they did

to me?

Well

imagine if

that was

the mindset

of Jesus.

What if

he bypassed

us and

says no

I'm not

washing you

clean.

You see

not one

of us

deserves

the humble

servant

love of

Jesus

but

knowing

and seeing

my

uncleanness

knowing

exactly how

I would

behave

and how

I would

treat him

Jesus

died for

me

and washed

me

clean.

That means

I can never

look at

anyone and

say they

are below

being served.

not one

person is

below

being

served.

And if

ever I

find it a

difficulty

or if

you find

it a

difficulty

to serve

another

person

well look

again at

the cross

and look

at Jesus

who died

for you

and served

you.

I have

set an

example

that you

should do

as I

have done

for you.

So what

does this

text teach

us?

Well very

simply

Jesus

showed his

love to

us

by becoming

a servant

to wash

us clean

and to

give us

a way

that we

might serve

one another

in humble

love.

Let's just

take a

moment in

the quietness

to reflect

on what

we've just

heard.

Let us

give thanks

to the

Lord Jesus

the God

man

who came

to serve

us

and give

his life

for us.

Ask

that the

Lord would

give us

the right

mindset

every day

as we

see how

Jesus

cleaned us

that we

too may

serve

one another.

Lord Jesus

thank you

thank you

for serving

us

thank you

for assuming

and taking

on the

role of a

servant

for dying

our

death

for being

mocked

and beaten

becoming

nothing

that we

would be

washed

clean.

we thank

you for

that

and would

you please