John Chapter 13

     (John: Chapter 13)

The focus of the first half of John is on the signs of Jesus-evidence of his identity born by miraculous works. The focus of the second half of John is on the hour. Jesus now must say farewell to his followers and begin his return to the father through his arrest, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

Jesus's hour had finally come; it was time for him to be glorified and depart from this world to the father. John tells us that Jesus loved his own-his disciples to the end. He had spent three years with the twelve, teaching them, leading them, praying for them,loving them. He had done everything for them that he had come to do. Yet one of the men, Judas Iscariot, was going to betray him. In intending to do this, he had opened the door for the devil to put a specific idea into his heart.

John 13-17 Reveals what Jesus said to his disciples on the night before his death. These words were all spoken in one evening ,with only the disciples as his audience, he gave final instructions to prepare them for his death and resurrection, events that would change their lives forever.

As the meal is being served, Jesus demonstrates the depth of his love for his followers. The task of foot washing was so menial that the Jewish slaves were exempt, and the job was kept for gentile slaves. We never find those with a higher status washing the feet of those beneath them. When Jesus takes off his outer clothing and wraps a towel around himself, he's adopting the posture of a slave.

Knowing that he, the son of God, had come from God and was going back to God, just took a towel and a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet. Notice that Jesus understood his identity and where he'd come from. He himself is God, the creator of the universe. He is the king of kings, having legions of angels standing poised to do his bidding. Even though Jesus is equal with God, he did not use his position for his own benefit.Instead, he willingly gave up his heavenly privileges and became a humble servant. He took that humble role to wash The Dirty feet of those who should have been washing his, because he came to serve. To this servant hood mindset, the Lord calls each one of us.

(Phil:2v6-7) says 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, being made in human likeness.

The Lord made it clear that though they didn't understand what he was doing, later they would. However, Peter would have none of it: you will never wash my feet. But unless Jesus washed him, he could have no fellowship with him. In that case,Peter essentially said, forget the foot wash. Give me a shower!With this statement, Peter revealed his heart. He was willing to do anything to show Jesus that he didn't want to be disconnected from him. Jesus assured Peter that if one has bathed, he only needs to wash his feet. In other words, if you're already saved,you don't need to be saved again. You just need to address The Dirty areas in your life so that you can stay clean. To maintain fellowship with the Lord, we must regularly come to him withconfession and repentance. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(1Joh:1v9) says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

When Jesus responded, unless I wash you, you have no part with me, or fellowship, he may have meant, (1) that unless he washed away peter's sins by his death on the cross, Peter could have no relationship with him; or (2) that unless Peter submitted to him and allowed him to minister in this way, Peter would never learn the lesson of servanthood. Either way Peter seemed to grasp the significance of Jesus’s words, for he then wanted to be bathed completely; not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!

In verse 10 and 11 we see that even after Jesus washed judas's feet, Judas still refused to change his heart and continued his plan to betray Jesus. The fact alone that Jesus washed judas's feet is stunning and is a testimony to Jesus’s patience and love for his followers (even for the man who betrays him).

Jesus did not wash his disciples’ feet just to get them to show greater hospitality to each other. His far greater goal was to extend his mission on earth after he was gone. These men were to move into the world serving God, serving each other, and serving all people whom they would take the message of salvation. How is Jesus's foot washing command applied in our modern context? To put it simply, we are to serve people in the family of God-especially by helping them when things get dirty.Our service is most needed in the messiness of life where people are hurting and suffering.

Judas was not the obvious betrayer. After all, he was the one that disciples were trusting to keep the money.

I'm not speaking about all of you. Once again, the reader is reminded that Jesus knew which of his disciples was about to betray him, all in fulfillment of scripture. Importantly, those he had chosen is of reference to those chosen for service, not for salvation. The scripture Jesus quotes is from (psalms41v9). Just as David was betrayed, so also the Messiah-the son of David-would be betrayed. Jesus wanted them to know that he knew the future and was in control. When everything happened just as he foretold, it would be further evidence of his divine identity.

Jesus became troubled, knowing what was about to occur. Then he prophesied: truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.Something that the readers of John's gospel have been told for some time was finally revealed to the disciples. And they were in shock, looking at one another in bewilderment. John one of Jesus’s disciples asked Jesus who this betrayer was. So Jesus told John that it was the disciple to whom he would give a piece of bread. Then he handed bread to Judas. To offer food was a sign of friendship; therefore, Jesus was extending a final offer of grace and mercy to the one who was about to betray him. Judas took the bread, but he rejected the offer of friendship: Satan entered him. Yet Satan only entered him because Judas had invited him by rejecting Jesus and intending to betray him.

Essentially, Jesus told Judas, what you're planning to do-get it over with. The other disciples were confused by the exchange,thinking that Jesus was telling Judas to make preparations for the Passover feast. They didn't realize that Judas was not only betraying their master but would do so that very night. So, Judas left to carry out his evil deed.

John describes these few moments in clear detail. We can see that Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. He knew about Judas and Peter, but he did not change this situation, nor did he stop loving them. In the same way, Jesus knows exactly what you will do to hurt him. Yet he still loves you unconditionally and will forgive you whenever you ask him.Judas couldn't understand this and tragically ended his life in suicide. Peter understood, and despite his shortcomings, his life ended triumphantly because he never let go of his faith in the one who loved him.

Satan's part in the betrayal of Jesus does not remove any of the responsibility from Judas. He gave in to Satan’s prompting.Disillusioned because Jesus was talking about dying rather than setting up his Kingdom, Judas may have been trying to force Jesus’s hand and make him use his power to prove he was the Messiah. Or perhaps Judas, not understanding Jesus’s mission,no longer believed that Jesus was God's chosen one. Whatever Judas thought, Satan assume that Jesus’s death would end  his mission and thwart God's plan. Like Judas, Satan did not know that Jesus’s death was the most important part of God's plan all along.

With the betrayal set in motion, the events leading up to the crucifixion had begun. Now the son of man is glorified refers to why Jesus had come into the world. He would sacrifice himself so that others wouldn't have to pay the price for their wrongdoings. The son would glorify the father, And the father would glorify the son; they would mutually advertise one another's glory. Highlighting the greatness of God, in fact, is what Christians are called to do as well. Everything we do-in thought, word, and deed-is to be done for the glory of God.

(1Cor:10v31) says So whatever you eat or drink or what whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

In a little while, Jesus would be gone and ascend to God the father. In light of this impending departure, he gave them a new command: love one another. It was new because it related to what was about to happen within the family of God. Biblical love is the decision to compassionately, responsibly, and righteously pursue the well-being of another person. It's not the same as liking someone. To like someone or something is to express a feeling. By contrast, loving someone may or may not have feelings connected to it. Love is a decision to seek another's best, regardless of your feelings.

Jesus says that our childlike love will show we are his disciples.Do people see petty bickering, jealousy, and division in your church? Or do they know you are Jesus’s followers by your love for one another?

Love is more than simply warm feelings; love reveals itself in action. How can we love others as Jesus loves us? By helping even when we are too busy; by giving sacrificially; by devoting energy to others welfare rather than our own; by absorbing Hurtsfrom others without complaining, fighting back, or seeking revenge. These are just a few examples, but this kind of loving is hard to do. That is why people notice when you do it. When they do, you can explain that your actions are empowered by a supernatural source. The Bible has another beautiful description of love in.

(1Cor:13) please read:

To love others was not a new commandment.

(Lev:19v18) says Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

But to love others as much as Jesus loved others was revolutionary. Such love will not only bring unbelievers to faith in Jesus but also keep believers strong and united in a world hostile to God. Jesus was a living example of God's love, as we are to be as well. When you are faced with Jesus’s teaching, do you automatically think about the people in your life who are hard to love or whom you feel like you can't love? The love Jesus calls us to show seems humanely impossible. In order to have this kind of love, we need to humble ourselves by realizing that Jesus died for us and our unloving ugly sins. Then we need the Holy Spirit to pour out God's love in our hearts so we can love others.

(Rom:5v5) says And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

In response to Jesus’s comments about leaving them, Peter asked, where are you going? When Jesus told him that he couldn't follow, Peter decided to set him straight. The rest of the disciples might not be ready to follow, but Peter was confident that he was prepared: I will lay down my life for you. But that's when Jesus poured cold water on this fiery disciple. He said, “A rooster will not crow until you have denied me 3 times. Jesus wanted Peter to put his pride to death. He was talking a good game, but he wouldn't be able to back it up with action. Too often we're exactly like Peter. In our minds we envisioned ourselves as better disciples than we actually are. Pride will cause us to think too highly of ourselves and then fall flat on our faces.

Paul tells us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.

(Rom:12v3) says for by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourselves with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Instead of bragging, demonstrate your commitment step by step as you grow in your knowledge of God's word and in your faith.

Jesus said whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives the son of God receives God the father because the son is the way to the father. But Jesus added, whoever receives anyone I send receives me. When we go into the world in the name of Jesus and proclaim his gospel and his teachings, we go as his and the father's authorized representatives.