JOHN LESSON 37
We will begin this lesson in John 13:1.
V-1, "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."
Jesus never stops loving those who believe and follow Him. His
last hours before they capture Him and crucify Him, He wants to be
spent with those He loves so dear. Jesus wants to comfort them, and
teach them as much as He can before His departure.
V-2, "And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the
heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;"
Judas was not a true follower of Jesus from the beginning. He
wanted to go with them so he could carry the purse. We read in a
previous lesson, that he was a thief. John 6:70, "Jesus answered
them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil." You
see, Judas was a devil from the beginning. You see, Judas did
whatever the devil wanted him to do, because he was demon possesed.
V-3, "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his
hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;"
V-4, "He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and
took a towel, and girded himself."
The knowing in verse 3 above, does not mean that Jesus acquired
this knowledge. Jesus knew from the beginning. Jesus knew who He
was, and had sacrificed His presence with the Father to come on a
mission to the earth to save the world. This was a voluntary act on
His part. This was planned from the foundation of the earth. Since
we are Jesus' creation, then it is right that He would be the one to
redeem us. We have discussed, over and over, how Jesus is Creator
God. Read the first chapter of John again, if you have any doubts
along this line. Jesus now humbles Himself to the place of a servant.
He removes His outer garments and is clothed in a towel. Jesus is
about to teach one of the most vivid lessons on humbleness.
V-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."
In this part of the country, people wore sandals across the sand.
Their feet would have been dirty and probably calloused. This was an
act of total humilty on His part. This, also, could symbolize that
Jesus wants them to walk a clean life, as we ll.
V-6, "Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him,
Lord, dost thou wash my feet?"
Peter knows that Jesus is his Lord, and he is astonished that
Jesus would wash his feet. He feels that he should be washing Jesus'
feet.
V-7, "Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest
not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."
We see here, that until Peter has been baptized with the blessed
Holy Spirit of God and receives the mind of Christ, he will not
understand why Jesus did this. Many things the Lord Jesus wants us to
do, we do not fully understand at the time we are doing them. We must
just do as He says, without question. At a later time, looking back
we will understand the why of it. This is what Jesus says here to
Peter.
V-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."
Peter feels that he is not worthy for his Lord to wash his feet.
Jesus stop this humble confession of Peter when Jesus tells Peter, if
He doesn't wash him, he is not part of Jesus. Jesus has to wash each
of us in His blood before we are a part of Him.
V-9, "Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but
also my hands and my head."
When Peter sees the necessity, he wants everything Jesus has for
him. In so doing Peter says, cleanse my mind that it will be stayed
on you Lord. Cleanse my hands that they will be doing what you would
have them do. Cleanse my feet that they will walk in the path you
have chosen for me.
V-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."
Jesus is telling Peter here, that the Word has made him whole.
Just the washing of the body will not make you whole. You must have a
brand new heart. When He tells Peter that he is clean, He also says
Judas is not clean. Perhaps, Jesus is allowing Judas one more moment
to repent. I am sure it touched his heart.
V-11, "For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye
are not all clean."
Back in chapter 6 of John verse 40, we had read that Jesus said
one of the twelve was a devil. Jesus knew from the beginning which
one he was. He speaks this directly of Judas Iscariot.
V-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"?
Jesus has done this to teach them a great truth on being humble
and serving others, even if you do have an elevated position among
your fellows. He is asking them, did you understand what I did?
V-13, "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I
am."
In this, Jesus tells them that they are correct in believing that
He is their Master and Lord. He is Emmanuel - God with us.
V-14, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye
also ought to wash one another's feet."
What He is really saying, is to be humble and serve each other.
Don't want to rule over the others. Accept whatever position God has
called you in. You are not to act arrogantly to each other. Be
humble and help each other, not just in washing of feet, but in every
way.
V-15, "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I
have done to you."
In everything Christians should strive to be like Jesus. Follow
in His footsteps, be a reflection of Him.
V-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."
He is really telling His followers that they will not be God.
They are the ones sent and they must not get swelled up with pride,
and think too highly of themselves. The only reason they have the job
they do, is because He sent them.
V-17, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
Jesus says, to be happy, you must not be striving to be better
than someone else. Be content with whatever God has called you to be,
and you will be happy.
V-18, "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but
that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath
lifted up his heel against me."
Jesus is saying here, that Judas was chosen as one of the
disciples, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. He is saying,
one of you twelve is a traitor and will try to destroy me.
V-19, "Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to
pass, ye may believe that I am he."
Jesus says, that He is telling them ahead of time, so it will not
come to them as such a shock and, also, that they will know that Jesus
knows all things and is truly Messiah.
V-20, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth
whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him
that sent me."
We can see from this, that all who are the called to minister of
God are not to worry when people do not accept them. They are not
rejecting the minister with the message, but they are rejecting Jesus.
He, also, said that those who have rejected Hi m have, also, rejected
the Father. This should really encourage those of you who are under
persecution.
Notes
John 37 Questions
1. How long did Jesus love His own?
2. In whose heart did the devil put the wish to betray Jesus?
3. Whose son was this man (the betrayer)?
4. What did Jesus know had been put in His hands?
5. When Jesus took His outer garments off, what did He wear?
6. When Jesus poured water into the basin, what did He do?
7. What did He wipe them with?
8. What question did Simon Peter ask Jesus when He came to him?
9. Why did Peter not want Jesus to do this to him?
10. Jesus said, if I wash you not, you have ___________________.
11. Then Peter said for Jesus to wash what three parts of his body?
12. Jesus said, He that is washed is ________________________.
13. Who did Jesus mean when He said, not all?
14. Who did Jesus say He was in verse 13?
15. What lesson did Jesus teach them in this?
16. What had Jesus given them, so that they would know what to do?
17. The servant is not greater than his ______________________.
18. To be happy, what must you do?
19. Why was one of the twelve a traitor?
20. Why did Jesus tell them ahead that one was a traitor?
21. He that receiveth whomsoever I sent receiveth ___________________.
Notes
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