John 13:12-20

Notes:

1. Jesus wanted His disciples to understand His example
1. He was their Lord and teacher
2. He had washed their feet
3. There was no excuse now; they should wash each other’s feet/serve each other
4. Principle of greatness
2. Exception
1. Jesus excluded at least one of the disciples
2. Basis: He knew the ones He had chosen
3. Basis: Fulfillment of Scriptures
3. Jesus foretold to help future belief that “I AM”
4. Receiving the sent one(s) indicates reception of the sender

 

Jesus makes clear what has already been noted above: What our great Lord and teacher has done, we disciples cannot be “above” doing. Jesus expects His disciples to serve each other. It is interesting that, unlike baptism, which Jesus never performed on others (though he commanded baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – Matt. 18:18-20), this foot washing ceremony that Jesus both performed and commanded has not become a church ordinance. Why do we not wash each other’s feet today? Probably because the disciples understood correctly that Jesus intended this to be a command of mutual service rather than of actual foot-washing. Perhaps not, but this seems reasonable.

If so, here’s one implication. One of the most important ways that Christians can serve each other is by reminding each other of Christ’s words and teachings – the gospel. That’s why it is important that we meet together for church. And Sunday school. And community groups/small groups/whatever they’re called in your area. That’s why it’s important that Christians get together as friends at each other’s houses – not only for amusement and enjoyment purposes, but also to remind each other of Christ’s words, whether for encouragement, counsel, or (when needed) rebuke and correction. That’s why my personal devotions are now on a blog – personal devotions are not meant to be personal, but to be served to others. A blog is the LEAST personal way to do this, but it is one way. I do my best to encourage believers around me when my devotions seem to relate to struggles they’re having or to activities they’re doing. We fill up on Christ’s word as often as possible so that we can share His teachings, serving other believers (and also unbelievers, encouraging them to believe Him!).

Jesus did not expect all of the disciples present to live this way, though. Why? Because such living would not be good? No! It was specifically because Jesus knew that He had one disciple who simply would not live this way, but would instead betray Jesus. Jesus had included this disciple so far so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled. This exception does not apply to today’s believers (unless we want to end up the way Judas did). All other disciples are expected to follow Jesus’ example of mutual service.

Notice that Jesus explained to His disciples why He was telling them about His future betrayal and death: He wanted them one day to believe. They didn’t fully understand at this point, so they couldn’t believe. Perhaps they wanted to; perhaps not. But one day they would remember that Jesus had predicted His own betrayal and death, and that He had done so specifically so that they would believe that Jesus was “I AM,” God Himself. Jesus was serving His disciples by enabling their future faith. His predictions should perform the same service for our faith. Jesus predicted His own betrayal and death; later He was betrayed and died. Surely we can believe His claim to be God!

Jesus also claimed to have been sent from God. And He was sending the disciples to make this claim to others. So long as the disciples were faithful to their Lord, those who received them would be receiving Jesus, and those who received Jesus would be receiving His Father. The disciples themselves, by receiving Jesus, could know that they had a right relationship with the Father. What great encouragement for us! When we don’t see God and we struggle with knowing whether our relationship with Him is right, we can examine our relationships with other believers – people we know to be following God. If we love, appreciate, welcome and obey them and their words – whether encouragement, teaching, or rebuke – then we can know we have a relationship with the Father! But if we reject the words of God that they teach (especially if we have checked in the Scriptures and found out that God really teaches what they claim), we can know that we are rejecting God Himself and that we ought to repent or expect terrible judgment. There are very practical ways of examining our relationships with God, ways more helpful than how we feel about ourselves or how distant we feel God is! One of those ways is how we relate to other believers! Isn’t that helpful?

 

Father, there was so much here. Help me to follow Christ’s example as a faithful disciple. Help me to trust Jesus more fully because I see that He knew about His betrayal and death in advance – He must be the One He claims to be! Help me to evaluate my relationship with You by the way I receive Christ and His disciples, and to be comforted!