CLEAN FEETJohn 13:1-17INTRODUCTIONA. This morning we look in on an Intimate setting of Jesus’ last hours with His disciples.1. The Time of The Ages had come.a. Jesus’ hour had arrived.(John 2:4 KJV) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.(John 7:30 KJV) Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.(John 8:20 KJV) These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.b. But, notice what Jesus says in John 12:23(John 12:23 KJV) And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.c. What hour was Jesus talking about??? The time had come for Him to be sacrificed for all mankind’s sins.(John 13:1 KJV) Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. d. I hope now, we understand the importance of the hour.e. All of the other things Jesus had done up to this time were preparatory to this moment.f. All of the teachings…the examples…the miracles…the healings…g. All leading to this…the most important time in human history.h. And at this moment, in the final hours of Jesus life here on earth, He does a remarkable thing.i. He washes the feet of His disciples.(John 13:2-17 KJV) And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; {3} Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; {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 basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. {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. {8} Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. {9} Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. {10} Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. {11} For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. {12} So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? {13} Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. {14} If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. {15} For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. {16} 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. {17} If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. B. The ritual of feet washing.1. Feet washing was an act of, and an indication of, a gracious host.a. In Eastern traditions during the time of Jesus, it was customary to either wear sandals, or no shoes at all.b. Since most all traveling was done on foot, you can only imagine how dirty the feet would get.c. As a show of hospitality, the host would offer water to rinse the feet of the guest off, providing not only cleansing but refreshing as well.d. We need to understand though, that this deed was normally performed by the guests themselves, or, if the host had slaves, by the lowliest slave.e. But Jesus was not simply being the consummate host…f. He was teaching…in his final hour…unmistakable lessons…to His disciples…both then and now…by example.g. The master Teacher, leaving us lasting impressions.h. There are three pictures we need to see this morning.BODYA. The Picture of Jesus As The Servant1. Reread verses 3-5…this is a picture that is consistent with Jesus’ life.a. He rose…from the table…b. A picture not only of what Jesus was doing but a reminder of what He had already done.c. Jesus had risen from the Father’s table 34 years earlier to embark on a mission to save the world!d. He had laid aside His glory to become a man so that He could redeem you & I.e. Just as He took the towel and put Himself in the position of a servant.f. He placed Himself into the common, ordinary flesh of a human being… Being subject to all the normality of man… He became the servant to all. Listen to what He gave up to become the sacrificial lamb for all mankind.Luk 9:28-32 And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (29) And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. (30) And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: (31) Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (32) But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.g. Many people mistakenly teach that Jesus was glorified by His obedience to the cross, but that’s just not true.Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.2. Jesus laid aside the glory that He had shared with His father.3. Placed Himself in the role of the servant.4. And came to this world to serve all mankind.5. All in obedience to His Father.Php 2:8-11 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.6. Oh but the next time He comes!a. He won’t be coming as a servant…but as our Sovereign…b. One day…one day soon…He’s gonna split that eastern sky wide open…c. He’s not coming as a babe…d. He’s not coming to be spit upon…and beaten…crucified…e. He’s coming as the Lord of Lord…and King of Kings.f. He’ll not lay down His glory…He will be adorned in all His majesty and Glory.g. He’s coming to get His bride…the church!h. But until that day…He is still serving you and I.Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.7. Jesus…servant...savior…sovereign!B. The Second Picture We See Is Peter and The Water1. The water’s role in the washing a. Water in the Bible symbolizes the Word of God.Eph 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.2. There are two words for washing used in the text today. a. The first word is niptoe.b. It is refers to an outward, physical cleansing.c. The second word is loo’od. It means a total cleansing from within.e. Both words are used in this passage of scripture and their meaning clarifies the spiritual application Jesus was trying to make.3. As Jesus takes the basin and towel, He begins to wash (niptoe) the disciple’s feet.a. As he comes to Peter, Peter shies away and says…you will never wash (niptoe) my feet Lord!b. What Peter doesn’t understand is the spiritual lesson Jesus is trying to teach Him.c. I wonder how many times we miss what Jesus is trying to say to us because we assume we know it all already.4. Notice the Lord’s response to Peter in Verse 8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash (niptoe) my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash (loo’o) thee not, thou hast no part with me.a. Peter realizes after Jesus corrects him what Jesus is talking about.b. Do not fail to miss this point…All of the cleansing we can apply to our lives does us no good if we have not been cleansed from within by Christ.c. If He has not cleansed us, we remain stained.d. We can understand Peter’s reversal in verse 9{9} Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. {10} Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.5. Then once again we see the doctrine of the security of the believer played out in Jesus’ reply to Peter.a. Peter’s condition mirrors the condition of each one of us who are His children today.b. Walking in this world…c. Our hearts cleansed from within by our Savior…d. Yet still with the dirt of sin clinging to our feet…e. Still needing the daily cleansing only Jesus is able to provide.f. And as willing as Jesus was to wash Peter’s feet, He is just as willing to wash ours as well.C. The Third Picture We See Is A Challenge To All Christians.{12} So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? {13} Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. {14} If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. {15} For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. {16} 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. {17} If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.1. “Ye ought to wash each other’s feet.”a. There are many denominations that teach this as the third ordinance Jesus left the church to continue until His return.b. Some still continue it today.c. But we never read of the apostles continuing in this observance.d. Had Jesus COMMANDED this, as He did Baptism and communion, the apostles would have continued this as well.e. However, when the apostle’s doctrine is studied, we never see this as an ordinance.2. Jesus washed the disciple’s feet for two reasons.a. To show His love and devotion to them.b. To teach them (and us) a lesson.c. That lesson is this. We ought to be able to perform this service on our brothers if need be. We ought to have a heart that is willing to debase itself for one another. We ought to be forgiving. We ought to be humble. We ought to want to serve others…we ought to have the heart…the demeanor…the character…of a servant. And NOT just to our brothers and sisters in Christ… But even to our enemies!!!3. You see, there was one there on this occasion that did not belong to the group.a. He was not really with them…he was against them.b. He looked like he belonged…but he did not.c. His name was Judas Iscariot.d. And Jesus washed his feet as well.{10} Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. {11} For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.4. Oh how Jesus tried to reach Judas in these final hours.a. You see, it’s easy to treat our brothers and sisters in this manner…but how about our enemies?b. Jesus says this should be our heart.c. When we see a brother with dirty feet, we should lovingly help him to cleanse them…do you understand what I mean?d. When a brother or sister is out of fellowship due to the dirt of sin staining their feet, we should be willing to do any task necessary to bring them back to the fold.e. Jesus taught the disciples then, and it is reiterated today, there is no way we can stoop too low to help each other.f. Whatever needs to be done, to help others, should be willingly done…with a servant’s heart.CONCLUSIONA. A Call To Humble Service.1. Our attitude when we serve means as much as our service. a. Jesus showed us the correct attitude.2. A Call For A Clean Walk.a. Even though we may be cleansed (loo’o) on the inside, we can’t help but get our feet dirty from just living and walking in this world in which we live.b. We need out feet washed (niptoe) by Jesus daily to have uninterrupted fellowship with Him.c. How do we get our feet washed today…by asking him in prayer and repentance.3. A Call To Help Others Stay Clean.a. By being willing to serve…with the heart of Christ.b. Some say…I could never do that…it’s just not in me…oh yes it is!!!!c. When we accept Him as our personal Savior, His heart is placed within us, and our old stony heart is removed.d. The only way this is not in you today is if you have never been truly cleansed from the inside…and you have a chance to change that today.
