[:en]SCRIPTURE: JOHN 13
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher have washed our feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:5)
“No servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:16)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you. so you must love another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35)
JESUS WASHES HIS DISCIPLES’ FEET (vs. 1-17)
When the time has come for Jesus to leave this world, He washed His disciples’ feet. At first, Peter refused but when Jesus said” “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me” (v. 8), Peter then asked Jesus to wash not just his feet but his hands and head as well (v. 9). Jesus set this example of humility for the discples to follow.
JESUS PREDICTS HIS BETRAYAL (vs. 18-30)
Jesus knew that Judas will betray Him. But He still treated him like others and washed his feet. Judas pretended to be with Christ that even the disciples did not realize that he was a counterfeit. Christ openly warned Judas giving him the opportunity to change his mind, but he yielded to Satan instead.
JESUS PREDICTS PETER’S DENIAL (vs. 31-38)
Jesus gave them a new command “to love one another so that all men will know that they are His disciples” (v. 35). Jesus also warned Peter about his denial. But Peter said: “Lord, I will lay down my life for you (v. 37). Jesus answered: “I tell the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.
LESSONS:
- In Middle East countries, it was the slave who washed the feet of the guest. Jesus took the place of a slave and washed His disciples’ feet to teach us a lesson on humility.
- Jesus said: “A man who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean” (v10). In Eastern land, people used public baths, but their feet became dirty as they walked their way home. Upon arriving home, they did not need another bath but only to wash their feet. Jesus was saying when we are saved, we are washed over. (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Titus 3:5-6). But when we confess our daily sins, it is like washing and cleaning our feet. We need God’s Word to keep our feet clean in our walk of life.
- Judas was an example of hyprocrisy. Judas made a deliberate choice by yielding to Satan and betrayed Jesus. Beware not to be used by Satan by pretending to be a Christian but was under the power of darkness.
- Peter boasted about his loyalty to the Lord, but Jesus warned him of his failure. Self-confidence is dangerous in Christian life. We have to let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts so that we can stand firm in all trials.
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