Did you know that you can actually reach higher ground by bowing low? You can descend in such a way so as to actually reach higher elevations!
Jesus showed how… On the last night that He spent with His disciples before being crucified, Jesus taught some profound lessons in a simple act of service. He had taught them these truths before… but in a vivid way, He lived it out before them so that they could experience it. What did He do? He washed His disciples’ feet.
Review of the narrative...
Scene 1: Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet (vv. 1-5)
The story opens in an Upper Room where the disciples had prepared the Passover Meal to be shared with Jesus. It would be His last Passover He would spend with His best friends before being arrested and crucified.
Though the disciples were probably not aware of it at the time, this meal, and the events of this night, were of extraordinary significance.
In ancient days, people wore sandals. As such, their feet would become dirty with the dust of the ground whenever they went anywhere. So, it was customary for a servant to wash the feet of guests who came into a home. But in this Upper Room, there were only the 12 disciples and Jesus. They were there privately. There was no servant attending to them.
· Can you imagine this scene?
There were the utensils for foot washing right there for everyone to see. There was the bowl, there was the pitcher of water, there was the linen towel… yet nobody moved to take the position of servant.
This was a grand opportunity for Jesus to teach some profound lessons to His disciples, and to us today…
In an extraordinary move, Jesus, the Lord of Glory, stood up, laid aside His garments, and carefully and tenderly washed the dirty feet of His own disciples! (vv. 4-5)
Scene 2: Peter Protests Jesus (vv. 6-11)
Then Jesus comes to the feet of Peter – and he protests.
· Peter says, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" (v. 6).
The words “You” and “my” are emphatic in the Greek. It should sound incredulous – “Lord, are You, of all people, going to wash my feet?”
· Jesus answers, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” (v. 7)
Jesus wanted to demonstrate a principle that the disciples would not fully comprehend that evening, but after Jesus died and rose again, they would understand its significance more fully.
(NOTE: We often resist what the Lord is doing with us – we don’t understand it at the moment, so we pull away. But all things happen in our lives for a purpose.)
· Peter says, “Never shall You wash my feet!”
Peter was an impulsive, passionate man who often spoke and acted before thinking:
1. He was the one who scoffed at the idea of throwing his nets back into the sea, only to be astonished at the great catch of fish. (Luke 5:4-6)
2. He was the one who walked on water toward Jesus in faith, then got caught up in the fear of the waves and started to sink (Matt 14:29-30).
3. He was the one who confessed Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” only to later be called Satan by the One whom He confessed! (Matt 16:16, 23)
4. He was the one who impulsively suggested that they build 3 tabernacles on the mountaintop for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus when He was transfigured before them. (Mark 9:5)
5. And here he was impulsively denying Jesus from doing something of profound importance because he didn’t understand the full meaning of it.
Peter was probably trying to convey His high regard for Jesus. Despite what all the other disciples did, he wasn’t going to let the promised Messiah stoop to such a level to clean his dirty feet!
Scene 3: Jesus Explains the Meaning (vv. 12-17)
You may be aware that some churches have regular “foot-washing” ceremonies, and many consider it a sacrament, like communion and baptism?
· Is this what Jesus intended?
I believe that a foot washing ceremony can be a powerful and special service for a church to participate in… but I don’t believe that that was Jesus’ intention in John 13.
Jesus washed His disciples’ feet in order to demonstrate heavenly principles. You could consider His actions as a “living parable.” He wanted to teach us some important lessons by means of a living example.
KEY VERSE: "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. (John 13:15)
EMPHASIZE: The whole mission of Jesus’ life is captured in these 17 verses!
On this last night that Jesus would spend with His disciples before being arrested and crucified, He gave a vivid expression of what His life meant, and how He wanted to see the principles of His life reproduced in the lives of all who came after Him…this includes us!
What lessons do we learn from Christ’s example of washing the disciples’ feet?
In other words, "How can we descend to higher ground in the eyes of God?"
(Note: These are not in order as they appear in these verses, but put in logical order)
1. To live a life of LOVE toward others. (v. 1)
Washing feet was a customary practice in those days, but…
· Nobody wanted to get on their knees and get themselves dirty.
· Nobody wanted to take the form of a servant for the good of the others.
· Nobody wanted to take the initiative.
But Jesus did. And why did He do it? Because He really loved His disciples. He did not view these men merely as pupils – but also as peers.
Jesus valued His relationships He had with these dear friends of His, despite all of their failures and shortcomings. He had patience for them, He had compassion for them, He had care for them, He deeply loved them.
So Jesus, out of an act of love, took the initiative to express His love in a special and unexpected way. Love without action is just words. It’s one thing to say “I love you.” But it is quite another to back up your words with acts of love for the person.
The word “love” is so cheap in our culture…
· I’ll love you as long as you love me…
· I’ll love you as long as you are sexually intimate with me…
· I’ll love you as long as we’re happy with one another…
· I’ll love you as long as it’s convenient for me…
· I’ll love you as long as times are good…
· I’ll love you as long as you give me something in return…
· I’ll love you as long as your health (or looks) stays good…
· I’ll love you as long as you do what I say…
Bottom line: Our world says that love is just an emotion that comes and goes with the change of the weather. And as long as you meet my conditions, I’ll give you my love.
How utterly opposite is the love of God:
· God’s love is an unconditional love.
· God’s love is a committed love.
· God’s love is a forgiving love.
· God’s love is an eternal love.
· God’s love takes initiative – instead of being passive.
· God’s love focuses on giving, rather than receiving.
Jesus didn’t have to get down on His knees and wash his disciple’s smelly feet! But He did because He loved them to the very end. And He wanted to express that to them.
APPLICATION:
What does this kind of love in action look like in our everyday lives?:
· Doing your part to help keep the house clean, so that you don’t have to be “nagged.”
· Actively asking your children and grandchilden about their homework.
· When the baby cries in the middle of the night, you get up, so Mama can get some rest – instead of just rolling over and acting like you don’t hear her.
· Taking the initiative to break the ice with someone by a phone call, letter, or visit over coffee so that you can begin a relationship.
· Make the offer to wash the dishes, or mow the grass, or cook the dinner, or watch the neighbor’s kids…
· Taking your teenage daughter or grandaughter out “on a date” and just talk and listen to the things that interest her – not you!
Because when you do these kinds of things you are taking the initiative to “wash the feet” of somebody, not because you have to, but b/c you really love them.
2. To live a life of HUMILITY toward others. (vv. 1, 3, 13-17)
Take notice of two interesting statements in vv. 1 and 3:
· (v. 1) Jesus knowing that His hour had come…
This means, He was fully aware that this would be the last night that He would spend with His best friends. He knew that it was just a matter of hours before He would be betrayed, arrested, wrongly judged, mocked, beat, spit on, abandoned, and painfully crucified on a Roman cross, and then be raised again.
If you were fully aware of these things in your own life, do you think that you would “waste your time” scrubbing other people’s feet?!?
I have to admit, I would think that of all times, this would be an appropriate time for me to be entirely selfish and think only of myself!
o But Jesus didn’t… He humbled Himself to the floor.
· (v. 3) Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands…
Again, Jesus was fully aware that all the authority of heaven was bestowed upon Him. All the power, majesty, and glory was at hand for the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you were fully aware that you had all of the authority of God at hand, that you would stoop so low to clean toenails?!?
I have to admit, I think I would just command one of my disciples to do the dirty work instead of me. And I would be justified in my demand.
o But Jesus didn’t… He humbled Himself to the floor.
[READ vv. 13-17]
Jesus uses a form of argumentation called “Greater to Lesser.” If the Greater is true – HOW MUCH MORE – is the Lesser true.
Jesus was the GREATER…
Jesus was the Teacher. He had taught them the principles of the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus was the Lord. He was the rightful ruler over all things.
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Col. 1:16)
The disciples, and we, are the LESSER…
v. 14 – If the Lord of heaven, the Savior of the world, the Christ, the Son of the Living God could humble Himself from such a high degree of glory to clean the dirt from between His friends toes, HOW MUCH MORE we should do the same.
NOTE: The word “ought” in v. 14 doesn’t mean a “suggestion.” It actually means that we “owe, as in an obligation.” We are obligated to humble ourselves to one another because Jesus has done the same for us.
· Jesus is not setting an example for us to do something that is easy… NO WAY!!!!!
It is very difficult to humble yourself for the good of others. It’s very difficult to say no to your own preferences for the benefit of other people…
Jesus didn’t lower Himself from about 6 foot tall down to the ground. Jesus humbled Himself all the way down from the highest exalted position in the heavens to the ground for our sakes!
When you look at it from that perspective, how much easier it is for us to humble ourselves to serve the needs of others. We owe it to one another!
Illustration: George Washington
During the American Revolution a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions, but making no attempt to help them. When the rider asked why the shouting man wasn’t helping the other soldiers, he retorted with great dignity, “Sir, I am a corporal!”
The stranger apologized, dismounted, and proceeded to help the exhausted soldiers. When the job was done, he turned to the corporal and said, “Mr. Corporal, the next time you have a job like this and not enough men to do it, go to your commander-in-chief, and I will come and help you again.” (It was none other than George Washington.)
None of us are too high and mighty to be expected to chip in and serve in humility.
APPLICATION:
What does this kind of humility look like in our everyday lives:
· Signing up to clean the church, even though most people will never realize it…
· Helping to set up chairs before an event, even though you are one of the organizers…
· Withholding the urge to constantly “correct” everyone who may be sharing from their heart, because you happen to be an authority in the topic of conversation…
· It’s letting your husband repeat his favorite stories without interrupting him.
· Sometimes it is a matter of simply saying “I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”
Because when you do these kinds of things you are “washing the feet” of somebody with the same kind of attitude of humility that Jesus had with His disciples.
3. To live a life of MINISTRY toward others. (vv. 8-10)
These verses are somewhat confusing and have been misunderstood by many people. But Jesus wanted to demonstrate heavenly principles by acting it out in an earthly practice.
Unlike us today in our culture, these men were all familiar with the practice of washing feet. Two profound principles are communicated to us thankfully, because Peter protested having his feet washed.
a. Jesus justifies us. (v. 8)
We need to first remember that Jesus’ action in washing the disciples’ feet symbolized the entirety of His earthly ministry. It demonstrated the very purpose why He came to earth in the first place:
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
Jesus humbled Himself to come and live among us, as one of us, and to die in the place of all of us on the cross.
· So, in effect, to reject the symbol of His ministry of humble footwashing, was to reject that saving ministry which it represented!
And Peter harbored the attitude: “Jesus, you don’t need to serve me!”
It sounded good, but it was totally misguided. I’m absolutely sure that Peter did not understand what he said. In v. 7, Jesus told him that he wouldn’t understand the fullness of the meaning at that time.
Peter had a saving faith in Jesus, no doubt. But, he expressed an attitude that millions and millions of people have expressed throughout the world even to this day: “Jesus, I won’t accept your ministry to me!”
That is why Jesus said “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
We must be justified in the sight of God by the blood of Christ. We must be born again by the Holy Spirit. We must be washed from the inside out by the regeneration of the Spirit.
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’" (John 7:38)
This only comes through a personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. When you put your faith in Him, He washes us and we become part of His family.
b. Jesus sanctifies us. (vv. 9-10)
Peter went on to make another error in His discussion with Jesus. He basically went off balance in the other direction, i.e. “Oops! Well, then give me a full bath!”
Jesus replied that a bath wasn’t what Peter needed. He had been justified through a personal faith in Christ already. What he needed was constant sanctification.
Many people confuse justification with sanctification:
· Justification is the one time declaration by God that we are NOT GUILTY in His sight on the basis of our faith in His Son Jesus Christ.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:23-24)
· Sanctification is our daily walk as a Christian with the Lord Jesus. It is the ongoing process of being set apart for God to serve Him instead of serving ourselves or the world.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Jesus says to Peter: “If you’ve had a bath already, all you need to do is wash your dirty feet on a regular basis. That’s what gets constantly dirty.” (v. 10)
Peter was already “clean,” meaning that He was already justified in God’s sight. But he needed to be continually sanctified in His walk with God.
· We all need that, don’t we?
I’ve known people who were in constant fear of going to Hell. They’ve trusted in the Lord as Savior, but they lie awake at night worrying about whether or not they are really acceptable to God or not.
Jesus says, “Once you have your bath by the Holy Spirit, you are clean in God’s sight!”
But our feet symbolize our day-to-day walk. And our walk with Jesus gets dusty, dirty, muddy, and smelly with sin. There is no Christian who can rightly claim to be perfect.
What should we do? You don’t need to be justified again if you’ve already trusted in Christ as Savior. What you must do is accept the sanctifying ministry of Jesus
APPLICATION:
Only God can Justify and Sanctify. We can’t justify anybody. We can’t sanctify anybody either. But what we can do is minister to people in the name of Jesus Christ.
When you serve others with love and humility, they come to know who Jesus is – because His life is being lived in and through you!
· Are your actions and language reflecting a true faith in Jesus at your workplace?
· Does your family see you as the same person on Sunday morning, as they do the rest of the week?
· Are people hearing messages of hope and forgiveness from you, or only guilt and condemnation?
· Can you think of at least one unbeliever that you can minister to this week through your actions and your words, so that they might have the opportunity to be justified by Jesus?
· Can you think of at least one Christian that you can minister to this week through your actions and your words, so that they might have the opportunity to continually be sanctified by Jesus?
Because when you do these kinds of things you are “washing the feet” of somebody with the same kind of heart of ministry that Jesus had with His disciples. They see Jesus in you!
Jesus knew that not all of the disciples were clean. Judas was not clean in God’s sight, although the other disciples would have never guessed it… (vv. 10-11)
4. To live a life of FAIRNESS toward others. (v. 2)
An amazing thing about this whole scene is that Judas Iscariot was present for all of this! Jesus washed Judas’ feet, knowing that he was about to betray Him!
Christ still showed love and humility toward him. Christ treated Him fairly, even though He knew that Judas was being unfair to Him.
It’s so much easier to hate those who hate you:
· Withhold privileges – love, attention, credit…
· Gossip or spread lies about them.
· Undermine their aspirations
· To shame them openely
· To fight fire with fire
But Jesus bowed low before Judas and tenderly washed His feet just like the other 11.
Why would Jesus set an example of washing His enemy’s feet?
APPLICATION:
Loving those who hate you is the best way to:
· Win them over.
· Appreciate the fact that we are all created in God’s image.
· Show that we live above the games of pettiness, favoritism, and politics that the world favors.
· Show that love is bigger and more powerful than hatred.
· Let their own judgment to fall on them.
· Testify that no matter how much a person despises you, it cannot drag you down.
· Convince everybody who watches your behavior that God’s love is extended to all, even if it’s never received.
Fairness is far and away more powerful and effective than favoritism.
Because when you do these kinds of things you are “washing the feet” of somebody with the same fairness that Jesus shared with all of His disciples.
Conclusion:
Again, I want to say that I think that a foot-washing ceremony can be a very powerful and moving service within a church. I would actually like to have us do it some time.
But we must not get caught up in any “Practice,” without regard to the “Principles” behind the practice. (whether that be Communion, Baptism, Confession, Foot Washing, etc.)
Jesus taught us some principles through His example of service:
1. To live a life of Love toward others
2. To live a life of Humility toward others
3. To live a life of Ministry toward others
4. To live a life of Fairness toward others
· If you have never been washed by Jesus, I invite you to allow Him to cleanse you from your sins.
· If you are a Christian, I invite you to let Jesus wash your feet again today so that your sanctification (your walk with the Lord) might be pure.
Look at verse 17, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”
This is why I have called this message “Descending to Higher Ground.”
When you lower yourself to serve the needs of others, you are actually elevated in eyes of God. Our culture thinks the opposite – that we have to be cut-throat, and look out only for ourselves if we want to achieve anything of importance in this world. But Jesus taught that the way of blessing isn’t by self-achievement, but by serving others. That’s descending to higher ground.
