"NOW BEFORE THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER,
WHEN JESUS KNEW THAT HIS HOUR..."
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come that He should depart out of this world and return to the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end. And when the supper had ended and the devil had now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, to betray Him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God, and was going back to God; He rose from the supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. He then poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded. When He came to Simon Peter, Peter said unto Him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, You do not know what I am doing right now but you will know a little later. Peter said to Him, You will never wash my feet. Jesus answered, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Peter said unto
Him, Lord, don't just wash my feet, but also my hands and head. Jesus said to him, He that is washed needs only that his feet be washed and he is completely clean. But not all of you are clean, for He knew who would betray Him, so He said, you are not all clean. So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and had sat down again, He said unto them, "Do you know what I have done?" You call Me Master and Lord: and that is correct for I Am. If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, "The servant is not greater than his lord; neither He that is sent greater than He that sent Him. If ye know these things, you will be happy if ye do them."
I. LUKE GIVES US HIS ACCOUNT OF THIS LAST SUPPER.
LUK 22:14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. And He said unto them, "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer, for I say unto you, I will not eat of it until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God has come. And He took the bread, and gave thanks, and broke [it], and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup [is] the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you. But, behold, the hand of him that betrays Me [is] with Me on the table. And truly the Son of man will go as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed! And they began to enquire
among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And He said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise the authority over them are called benefactors. But you shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the servant, and he that is chief, as he that serves. For which is greater, he that sits at dinner, or he that serves? is not he that sits at the dinner? but I am among you as He that serves."
II. I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT JESUS GIRDED HIMSELF WITH THE TOWEL AND BEGAN GOING AROUND THE ROOM WASHING THEIR FEET.
A. When He got to Peter, Peter asked, "Lord are you going to wash my feet?"
1. This was surely a strange thing that they were seeing. Jesus was going around the room washing the feet of His disciples.
2. Jesus answered Peter, "You do not know what I am doing, but you will know soon."
3. When he had finished he again sat at the table with them and asked, "Do you know what I have done?"
4. Well yes, You washed my dirty feet.
a. If that is what you are thinking, you have missed the whole point.
B. Jesus knowing that they really didn't know, tells them what He did.
1. You call Me Lord and Master, and that is correct, for that is who I am.
2. If I being your Lord and Master have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.
C. Jesus has just modeled for them, the things that He has been trying to teach them.
1. Rather than this constant bickering as to which one would be the greatest, they should be serving one another.
2. This should also be true of us. Rather than trying to figure out how I can better rule, I should be trying to understand how I might better serve.
3. I have observed that so many times a person in the ministry develops an attitude.
a. An attitude of superiority.
b. An attitude of arrogance.
4. The young seminary graduate taking his first pastorate in a rural church.
D. People it seems learn better by example than by precept.
1. It is one thing to tell a person how to do a certain thing, but it is usually more effective if you show them how to do it.
2. Paul wrote to Timothy to be an example to the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
3. To the elders of Ephesus Paul testified, You know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
III. "IF YOU KNOW THESE THINGS, HAPPY ARE YOU IF YOU DO THEM."
A. If you learn the servanthood of ministry.
1. Peter who was one of those who was in argument of being the greatest, when he asked Jesus, "Will you wash my feet?" Jesus answered he would understand later what he was doing.
2. Peter did understand later and wrote to the leaders in the Church,
1PE 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, for I am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed, feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight of them not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither be lords over God's heritage, but examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away. Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:
B. It is so important that we know these truths.
1. I am so surprised that there are so many who do not even care to know them.
2. You teach, and stress them and seek to model them, and they go out and begin to lord over the flock of God.
C. It is amazing what people think is important to know, and will give their lives seeking to learn, things of no eternal consequence.
1.
2TI 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2. Jesus said,
JOH 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
3. My rich cousin.
IV. HAPPY ARE YOU IF YOU DO THEM.
A. Just knowing the truths is really not enough, it is doing them.
B. "If you do them." That is an important if.
Verse-Reference
Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]
Abbreviate Books
Use SBL Abbrev.
