WHEN DID YOU WASH YOUR FEET?
John 13:1-20
INTRODUCTION
Jesus said the ones the Father gave Me, I lose none.
Let me suggest that Jesus was not only talking about Heaven,
But also the spiritual lives we now live.
Everyone that The Father gave Jesus has a place in Heaven.
But while we are here own earth, we sin daily. We don’t lose
Jesus because of our sins, we lose fellowship with Him.
Jesus does not want to lose any;
1. To unforgiveness
2. To in tolerance
3. To sadness
4. To frustration
5. To loneliness
6. To lawlessness
7. To anger
8. To coveting
9. To hate
That is why we must encourage each other.
JESUS LOVES YOU
V:1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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.
A. Not only does Jesus say He loves you, His actions on your behalf
proves His love.
1. Jesus was about to go to the cross, but gave no thought to Himself,
but focused on the welfare of His disciples.
2. We probably will never know the full extent of God’s love,
but Jesus gave us physical example of a spiritual reality.
3. It was typical for a person entering a home to be given a basin
of water to wash his/her feet. To some special guests the job
was given to a slave.
4. Jesus the host of the dinner party, got down on His knees and
washed the feet of His disciples.
a. Jesus humbled Himself before man to serve man.
b. He humbled Himself before the Father to do the work of the
Father.
c. He lowered Himself to the lowest level of mankind to be
our savior.
d. He set the example of service He expects of us.
e. Let me suggest, that foot washing is all about sacrificial
service.
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK
V:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, \”Lord, are you going to wash my feet?\”
7 Jesus replied, \”You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.\”
8 \”No,\” said Peter, \”you shall never wash my feet.\”
Jesus answered, \”Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.\”
9 \”Then, Lord,\” Simon Peter replied, \”not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!\”
A. I remember the foot washing celebration at several churches I visited.
1. I never took part because I didn’t understand why anyone would
want to participate.
2. I saw no good reason for it. Count it to my immaturity at the time.
B. Unlike Peter, I didn’t want to dishonor myself.
1. Peter didn’t understand, and the Lord did not try to enlighten Him
at that moment.
2. Take a note from Peter, don’t open your mouth about something you
don’t understand.
2. The Lord knew at some point in time after His death and resurrection
Peter would understand.
3. Peter agreed to Lord washing his feet only because he did not want
lose fellowship with Him.
4. Faced with the choice of losing the Lord’s friendship. I would chose
foot washing.
5. Picture this; the disciples were sitting at a low table, with their
feet behind them.
a. Jesus got on His knees, behind each disciple and wash their feet.
b. Jesus got your back.
ASK FOR FORGIVENESS DAILY
V:10 Jesus answered, \”A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.\”
A. Jesus gave us the doctrine of salvation and repentance.
1. We are cleanse by our faith in the Word.
John 15:3-4
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
2. Since Jesus is the Word, faith in Jesus is the door to salvation
3. We have been bathed in the blood of Jesus.
4, Our sins have been forgiven, pass, present and future.
5. The washing of the feet is an analogy to the removal of our
daily sins by asking for forgiveness and repentance.
B. The washing of the disciples feet was symbolic of what Jesus did
For us on the cross.
1. Faith in His death and resurrection washed away our sins.
2. Jesus humble Himself by getting on His knees before His
disciples.
Matt 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many.\”
3. Jesus humbly went to the cross for our salvation
EVERYBODY AIN’T YOUR FRIEND
V:11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
A. There were two types of people at the foot washing.
1. Those who believe in Jesus and those who rejected Jesus.
They sat at the same table.
2. You never know what some one is thinking or planning to do.
3. Take a note from Judas, everybody isn’t your friend.
B. People who have known you a long time may distance themselves from
you to use you.
1. We don’t know the heart of those who walk with us, but God does.
2. Notice, Jesus served His enemy, and showed him respect.
3. Satan is at every church meeting because we bring him
with us.
SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS
V:12 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. 13 \”You call me \’Teacher\’ and \’Lord,\’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another\’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
A. Jesus descended to our level to save us.
1. He returned to His place in Heaven to make intercessions for us.
2. Jesus established Himself as our teacher and Lord.
B. A good teacher sets the example for His pupils.
1. People have to see us acting as Christians to know what a Christian is.
2. People have to see the light in us to know that there is a light.
BLESSED BY DOING GOD’S WORK
V:6. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
18 \”I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: \’He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.
19 \”I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.\”
A. Our blessing come from doing what we know is right.
1. We are blessed when we follow the example that Jesus set for us.
2. We were chosen to be blessed
B. Our Lord left some unchanged to reject Him.
1. We live and operate around those who reject Christ.
2. Judas walked with Christ but he never was a disciple of Christ,
3. Judas came to church messed up and left messed up.
C. In verse 17, Jesus gives two action verbs; to know, and to do.
1. You have to study the Word for yourself to know the Word.
2. When you meditate on the Word, It becomes apart of you.
3. To know the Word is not enough.
a. You must do what you know is God’s commands.
b. The blessing comes from knowing and doing.
Jesus gave us an example of discipleship.
1. He lived the principle He wanted us to know.
2. He taught the principle.
3. He encouraged us to follow His example.
When was the last time you washed your feet.
The word “your” is all inclusive. The your is all Christians.
The “your” includes your neighbors and your enemies.
When was the last time you washed your feet?
What is foot washing?
It is an act of service.
It is an act of humility.
It is an act of Love.
It is an act of authority.
It is an act of submission.
It is an act of obedience.
It is an act of cleaning.
It is an act favor.
It is an act of mercy.
It is an act that leads to happiness.
It is an act of honor.
How do you do foot washing?
What basin will you use?
YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE THE FOOT WASHING BASINS
Rom 12:6-11
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man\’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Eph 4:12-13
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
The spiritual gifts you have are the basins you use for foot washing.
Is there anyone here who like to gossip. I am talking about the juicy gossip. The Get in your business type. That maybe your gift. Just change the topic to Jesus
Use your talking skills to encourage others.
Doing this pandemic when social distance is mandatory to keep from spreading the virus. Call someone you know and encourage them.
There is a time when you can text somebody. But this the time when people
need to here your voice.
Jesus used texting and He drop by to visit people. The Bible Is God’s text.
He visited the lame man at the pool of Siloam. He visted Peter’s mother
when she was sick with a fever. He healed her and she immediately got up
and fixed Him a meal
We can’t visit people in person today. But we can visit on zoom and face time, with our cell phones and computers. You never know how God will use the tools you got to bless someone else. And in turn bless you.
Look my wife and I were driving down the street one day this week. We saw
A homeless man sitting on the side all dirty and what looked like all he had
In a dirty clothes bag. At same time God put it on each our hearts to turn around and go back and give the man some money. My wife gave him some money and some face masks. As we drove off and look back. It not the money that he looked at, but the face masks; he immediately opened. We got blessed that day with a smile on our faces from God.
Anyone here like to cook? That maybe your gift. Cook a meal for someone
You know having trouble putting food on the table for their family. Sure they can go by the food bank and pick up a box of can goods. But there is nothing like a home cooked meal.
When was the last time you washed your feet?
You may be struggling yourself. But look what happen to the single mother in 1 Kings 17; 12-17. There was a drought in the area.
She was down to her last dime. She only had a enough oil and flour to make one last meal for her and her son. She had given up hope and was sure her and Her son would die.
Elijah the prophet showed up and asked her to make
bread for him first.
Even though she didn’t understand why he wanted their last meal, she followed his instructions. The little oil and flour she had didn’t run out until God brought rain to the area as he promised.
Are you good with your hands? Like to put things together, Find someone
Who needs help and share your skills with them. God will bless you
In many other ways.
When was the last time you washed your feet?
Jesus set the example for us by washing the feet of His disciples
Before He went to the cross for us.
Why don’t you find somebody’s feet to wash, they belong to you.
JESUS SAID IF YOU KNOW AND DO THESE THINGS YOU WILL BE BLESSED
Rev M. Mitchell
