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.
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
chapter 36.
Ezekiel
chapter 36.
So keep
your finger
in John
13 and
go back
to Ezekiel
chapter 36.
If somebody
has a page
number, that
would help.
8, 6, 7.
No?
Okay.
Ezekiel
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
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
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
chapter 2.
Let me
remind you
of the
words.
Philippians
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,
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
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
help us
to keep
our eyes
fixed on
the Lord
Jesus
so that
we too
in turn
may humbly
serve one
another in
love
recognizing
that not
one of
us
is above
the role
of servant
and not
one of
us is
below
ever being
served.
Please
help us
this week
to serve
each other
in love.
Amen.
Well we're
going to
sing together
and I
think we
sang it
last week
but we're
going to
sing it
again
because
it captures
exactly what
the Lord
has done