CHAPTER 13

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.

This first sentence is to set a time frame.
It was BEFORE the feast of the Passover.
Jesus did not observe the feast that year.
He was the Lamb of God that year.

Also, note: "Jesus KNEW that His hour was come...."
He knew the time was come for Him to be offered.
He knew what being the "Lamb of God" meant!
See Genesis 22:8
There, Abraham explained God would "provide Himself a Lamb..."
The sacrifice Abraham was given that day to save his son was a RAM, not a lamb!
Thus Abraham was prophesying of a future event.
THIS was that event!

One cannot escape the end of the Scripture above.
Jesus had loved His disciples ALWAYS, and continued to love them even "unto the END!"
Even to the last HOUR!
For in the last hour, when He was agonizing on the cross, he put his disciple John as caretaker for His own mother!
(See John 19:27)

Perhaps the greatest miracle is: Jesus STILL loves those who are His the same way TODAY!

2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Verse 2
Here, let me introduce a Greek word ginomenou, and its kin genomenou.
The first generally indicates beginning, or preparing.
The second indicates ending.
It is my understanding that the proper translation is ginomenou, meaning under preparation.
Therefore, the verse would read, "Supper being under preparation."
Perhaps proof of this is given later, in verse 26 of this same chapter, showing positively that supper had NOT ended!

I might also add that Verse 26 shows us Judas was PRESENT when Jesus washed the disciple's feet!
"There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness." (Prov. 30:12) "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2Tim. 2:19)

Verse 3
Yes, Jesus KNEW that He was God in flesh.
He had, by the power of God, created all things (See John 1:3 and Hebrews 1:2).
He had come out from God, and was returning to God.

Verse 4-5
THEREFORE, the lesson in the next few verses is a lesson to man from God concerning living as God desires us to live!
Jesus had risen from the table of God, laid aside His glory, and taken on flesh to SERVE mankind!
He did not come to serve SOME; He came to serve ALL!
However, to be a recipient of His service for salvation, one must be fully committed to doing as HE desires!
As He had done in ethereal glory, so Jesus did in His earthly form.
He laid aside His physical garment.
Then, clad only in a towel (signifying servantship), Jesus literally SERVED the disciples by washing their feet.

It was customary for Jewish people of that day to have their feet washed from the road dust when they entered a house.
Instead of another servant, Jesus Himself took this role on this night.

6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

Jesus approached Peter, who was somewhat taken aback by the seeming impropriety of the moment.
It should have been his task to wash Jesus' feet!
Not the other way around!

But Jesus explained, "You may not understand now; but I will explain later, and you will understand."

What Jesus explains later is that we are cleansed for DUTY!

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.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

Now Peter was indignant!
This just did NOT seem right to him!

But Jesus told him, "If I wash thee not, thou has no part with me."
Peter certainly wanted to be with Jesus, for he loved Jesus dearly!
If it was washing Jesus would do, then let Him wash ALL!

Christian, are you willing to have the DAILY washing?
Are you repentant in prayer, begging forgiveness for daily filth of sin?

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.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

In that day, if a person had already bathed, then he only need wash his feet to enter the house.

Perhaps the spiritual significance of the physical event can be explained as follows.
He that is "washed in the blood of the Lamb," needs only daily washing from sins to remain in close, intimate relationship with Jesus.
However, he that has never been "washed in the blood of the Lamb," can NOT be clean!

All the attendance, giving and serving in the world cannot make a person "clean!"
ONLY being "washed in the blood of the Lamb" makes one clean in God's eyes!

NOW, comes the LESSON from the event!

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?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
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.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Jesus had told Peter, "..thou shalt know hereafter." (Verse 7)
And, now, Jesus EXPLAINS what He has done.

He is LORD and MASTER.
Yet, He has humbled Himself in dignified humilty to wash their feet.
Therefore, they are to humble themselves and do as Jesus did for them!

Now, I don't believe this applies solely to feet-washing!
We, as Christians must remember, we are SERVANTS of our LORD!
And, "The servant is NOT greater than his LORD!"

We are "SENT!"
We are sent to tell others of Christ, to educate others in Christ, and to minister to others in Christ's Name.
As we go about those tasks, we are to serve in dignified humility!

KNOWING this is what Jesus taught, makes serving Him a "happy" thing to do!

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.
19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
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.

The manner of service, dignified humility, would not be performed by "all" of those disciples present.
Neither is it performed TODAY, by all who call themselves Christians!

Judas was focused upon the delivery of Christ and not the direction of Christ!
Let me explain.
Direction means that we are under the control of someone by seeking their guidance in every thing that we do.
Delivery means we are trying to produce the person in the manner in which WE perceive them!

Judas had indeed participated in the meal with Christ, but would "lift up his heel against" Him!
Judas failed to see the importance of Who Christ came to be at that particular time.
And many fail to see the importance of Who Christ shall come to be!

And lest you attempt to JUDGE Judas for His actions, consider this. Many today focus upon the healing of Christ.
Many today focus upon the Spirit giving of Christ.
Many today focus upon the loving Savior of Christ.
How many of those could be labeled "traitor?"

Let us focus upon the ALL of Christ!!
For "ALL authority in heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18) is given unto HIM!
Let us give ALL we are to do ALL He has called us to!
And, let us perform our living for Him in dignified humility!

THEN, people will receive us.
And, receiving us, they will receive JESUS!

21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

After Jesus had taught the lesson, and the addendum to the lesson, then He was "troubled in spirit."
His heart was heavy.
He KNEW one would betray Him into the hands of those who would crucify Him.
And, He KNEW which one of His disciples would do this.

As Jesus proclaimed it, all the disciples began to doubt. (verse 22 above).
(See Matthew 26:22 and Mark 14:19)

Could this be possible? Could a person actually give all indications of being a servant, yet be a traitor?

Are there persons today who pretend to be servants and yet are traitors?
How about the one that says he/she is a Christian, but never studies the Bible?
How about the one that says he/she is a Christian, but never gives?
How about the one that says he/she is a Christian, but never tells others about Jesus' salvation?
Are there indeed those who are more concerned with delivery than direction?

Peter motioned to John that he should ask Jesus WHO?
John was seated very close to Jesus, and did ask.
Quietly, Jesus told John, "...to whom I shall give a sop..."

It was not uncommon for the head of the feast to dip bread and give it to someone.
As, Jesus did this, He also stated: "...That thou doest, do quickly."
Most of the disciples understood only that Jesus had given Judas some pre-direction.
They assumed, since Judas was the treasurer, that he was to go and purchase supplies, or give to the poor.

When Jesus told Judas to go, He was signing His own death warrant!
He was saying, "I am READY!"
Jesus did not force the traitor to stop what he had intended!
For Jesus KNEW that His death would OVERCOME all the traitorous deeds of man!

Verse 30 is a very outstanding statement.
As Judas left, "...it was NIGHT!"
Yes, there was physical darkness outside.
There was also darkness spiritually!
It is indeed a DARK time when one betrays Christ!

31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

Judas may not have known it, but in his delivery of Christ, he brought Christ to GLORY!
The cross is the glory of God's benevolent giving of self for our salvation.
Jesus purchased redemption for all mankind upon the cross!
He glorified God in being the humble servant He was intended to be!
And, God has glorified Jesus because of His obedience!
(See Philippians 2:5-11)

Jesus knew He had only a "little" time left with the disciples.
That very night, he would be arrested and tried; and, the next day put to death.

Soon, they would "seek" Him -- desire to have His physical presence.
And, where He was going, they could not go YET!
But, by His grace, and through His sacrifice, they could follow later!
And so can EVERYONE who has surrendered to Jesus as Lord!

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

This is perhaps the first lesson Jesus gave the disciples of the "church to be."
THIS is the "sign" by which the world knows true Christians: "...as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

How did Jesus "love" them?
By GIVING HIS LIFE for them!
By being what they NEEDED!

My friend, many "traitors" have been in the church because they have REFUSED loving one another as Christ loved us!

Strive, as a member of your church, to bring the whole church to loving one another as Christ loved us!
THEN, the world will KNOW that we are really Christ's disciples!

36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Peter was concerned about Jesus leaving and him not being able to go with Jesus.
Again, Jesus told Peter, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me NOW; but thou shalt follow me AFTERwards."

Peter said, "But, LORD, I'm ready to DIE for you!"
And Jesus told him, "Peter, before the rooster crows tomorrow, you will have already DENIED me THREE times!"

Later, Peter would be totally surprised by the events of the evening.
And, because he trusted so much in his own sincerity and strength, he would fail.

Is it not true today?
Many trust in themselves to stand courageously, yet fail miserably.

Let us never brag of what we can or will do!
Let us only SURRENDER to His direction, and follow His will!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.