An Expository Study of John’s Gospel
CHAPTER 13
Scripture Reading: John 13 (KJV)
THE REVELATION OF THE SON OF GOD TO THE DISCIPLES
(Chapters 13-17)
13:1-17 … “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. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 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. For he knew who should betray him: therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 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? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 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. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” If you desire to know God, read the book of Psalms. If you desire to know of the love and humility of Jesus, read these verses. The Lord’s time is at hand. All the years gone by now come down to a few hours.
Jesus washes feet
The Passover will be formally observed, but the real Passover Lamb has yet to be slain – Jesus could well repeat His own words, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27). The Lord knew that His hour was come. Now He needs to be encouraged, strengthened and supported. His disciples had been disputing, “who would be the greatest in the Kingdom?” (Mark 9:34). The basin was there. The water was available and the towel lay neatly folded on the table. But there was no servant. One Master and twelve disciples? To the contrary, there was One disciple and twelve Masters. The secret of the life of our
Lord is seen in the words, “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end” (John 13:1). It was this love that caused Him to lay aside His outer garments, girding Himself with a towel. The King and a towel. The King became a servant. The Master became a disciple. The final lesson was a graphic demonstration of humility.
“He humbled Himself”
Paul wrote, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). This passage of Scripture is an overview of pure Christianity. Humility is original power, the base virtue from which all other virtues come. The first beatitude of the “poor in spirit” speaks of a broken heart. We speak often about the cross and it is the focus of New Testament theology. We take the “cup” in communion. Yet, beyond the cross and beneath the cup is the towel.
Jesus and the Towel
Jesus may have begun this washing process with Judas, who had already decided to betray the Lord, his Master, for the price of a common slave. The Lord washed the feet of James and John, the “sons of thunder.” Simon inquired of the Lord, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” A proud heart always has dirty feet. Pride prevents us from washing the feet of others as well as preventing others from kneeling and washing ours. Jesus succinctly replied, “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.” Legend says that Simon was crucified head downward for he felt unworthy to die like his Master. Humility does not think too highly of self, nor does it deprecate self. True humility does not think about self. True humility is selfless, abandons self, leaves self behind, and forsakes self. By so doing, it jettisons all weaknesses, all foolish inhibitions, forming the perfect receptacle for genuine faith.
Simon
It was Simon who: walked on water, drew the sword, first entered the tomb, and preached on Pentecost. Simon wrote, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Pet. 5:10).
Submission principle
Jesus gave the one example needed by every disciple. Peter referred to this “submission principle” when he wrote, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder (older). Yea, all of you be subject (submit) one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:5, 6). The logic of Christ is super: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet . . . If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:14, 17).
13:18-29 … “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. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 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. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 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. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 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.” Jesus knew the heart of Judas. A liar is a cheat and a cheat is a thief. Judas was all three. Some things “troubled the Lord,” and so he spoke boldly, “one of you shall betray me.” Peter puts John up to asking the vital question, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus had already referred to the prophecy of David, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” (Ps. 41:9). It is not as if Judas was a new- comer or novice to the clan. He had been with Jesus from the beginning. He witnessed the Lord's great miracles. He had seen Him walk on water and still the stormy sea. Yet, the love of gain veils our eyes from any spiritual perspective. This “root of all evil” sprang up and choked Judas to death. The Passover was his last meal before death by hanging. Yet, it was the conscience of the convict that formed the noose (Matt. 27:3-10).
Obedient unto death
Jesus knew what was happening and understood the fulfillment of Scriptures. He offered Himself freely and “became obedient unto death” (Phil. 2:8). Later, His disciples would reflect on these tragic events and piece it all together (Acts 1:25). After all, Judas was but one of the twelve. The Eleven survivors show the glory of fidelity and only one of them would die of natural causes. These men, plus Matthias (Acts 1:26), would carry the Gospel to the world. Jesus would later give them the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). The scope of that commission would be “all the world.” The authority would be from the lips of the Lord Jesus. The message was the good news of salvation and the promise was, “I will be with you alway, even to the end of the world.” Therefore, “He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me” (John 13:20).
13:30 … “He (Judas) then having received the sop (bread) went immediately out: and it was night.” The die was cast; the plot complete and the plans were set. Do not blame God for sin. James writes, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (1:13- 15).
Judas betrayed Jesus. He made his alliance with the forces of evil. He “betrayed innocent blood.” What an awful sin; a satanic evil. Sin has its pleasures and attractions (Heb. 11:25). Yet, they are “but for a season.” “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
Separation from God, Christ, the angels of heaven and all the saved. This death is eternal (Matt. 25:46). It is “forever and ever.” This sad epitaph could have been written over the grave of Judas: and he “received the sap, went out immediately and it was night.”
13:31-34 … “Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. 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.” The group now has been purged and purified. Jesus can now be glorified. Israel failed at Ai because of overt sin in the camp (Jos. 7:10-12). Paul instructed the church at Corinth to “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump” (1 Cor. 5:7). So, with Judas gone and the stain of sin erased, Jesus turns from a “troubled spirit” to one of true purpose and commitment.
13:34, 35 … “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Jesus will soon leave the world, embarking on a great journey. Before leaving He gives a “new Commandment.” He will soon take a road none had walked before. It was His love that would bind and bond them together and allow them to understand the coming trauma. His example would linger with them always.
The Love of self-denial
Luke records, “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve” (22:24-26).
They were thinking of war and looking for an earthly kingdom like the power of Kind David and pomp and splendor of Solomon, but Jesus offered a spiritual one. Yet, Jesus would later in the night say to Simon, “Put up thy sword into the sheath; the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11). John would later write, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). Paul wrote, “and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3). Love, not fire, makes the martyr. Denying self is the highest expression of “Agape” love.
This love has the power to sacrifice
It is unlimited benevolence. The Samaritan: journeyed, came, looked, had compassion, went, bound up his wounds, brought him to an inn and took care of him. But, more than all that, the Samaritan left love-instructions to the inn-keeper, “Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee” (Luke 10:35). This is: a “never-the-less” love; a “what-so-ever” love; an “unlimited benevolent” love. The writer to the Hebrews says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9).
Lamb of God
This “Lamb” of God is the same Greek word (Amnos) from which we get the word “amnesty.” Sins forgiven, washed away in the shed blood of Calvary (1 Pet. 1:18-19). This love brings Paul to cry, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).
This kind of love has the power to forgive
The greatest love is to love God with your heart, soul and mind (Matt. 22:37). The second of the great commands is “to love thy neighbor as thyself.” If you love God, He will than teach you to love yourself. Only as we learn to love ourselves, will we be able to learn how to love our: wife, children, friends and enemies. This is “Agape” love – tough love – the kind that puts others above self. This love is independent of mere sentiment or emotion, for it is a love that looks to the good of others (Rom. 15:2).
The love of Jesus
It was “Agape” love that took Jesus to that ancient city, caused Him to say “not my will, but thine be done”, caused Him to endure the suffering, caused Him to accept the shame, caused Him to receive the scourging and eventually caused Him to give His life a ransom for all.
Hebrews 2:14
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Shout the message clear, “Whosoever will may come.” Salvation can be preached to “all the world.” Redemption is open to all. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. . . . Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. 5:9, 12). This is the “new love” of Jesus that lives today in the heart of every true believer.
13:36-38 … “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. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. 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.” Jesus shows us God. “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). Our mistake is in thinking that the disciples show us Jesus. The disciples (learners) never show us Christ. The disciples show us ourselves. All of our failings, fears and misunderstandings were first seen in the lives of the disciples. Which of all the apostles was: the worst example? Out of place? Always speaking out of turn? Always interrupting the Lord? Without a doubt it was Simon. But, we should not be too hard on him, for he best represents each of us. He was transparently honest, genuinely sincere and altogether human. Simon was the one who said, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). He was also the one who said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). This same Simon, on the mount of transfiguration, interrupted the conversation that had engaged Jesus with Moses and Elijah with the idea of three tabernacles or temples; one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Christ (Matt. 17:1-9). It was this “rock” (Cephas) who “rebuked” the Christ and stated in no uncertain terms that His predicted death would never come to pass (Matt. 16:21-23). On that occasion, Jesus called him Satan and said, “You don’t think like a spiritual person, you think like a human being” (Matt. 16:23, Modern Version). Simon asked the question, “whither goest thou?” (John 13:36). The Lord answers that where He is going, Simon cannot follow until later. This brings the natural question from the lips of Simon, “why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake” (John 13:37). Was Simon honest in such a declaration? Absolutely. After all, he was the only one who drew the sword. Was Simon painfully sincere? Most assuredly. Yet Simon was “a sinful man” by his own admission. What Jesus then says is sad, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice” (John 13:38). In later chapters, we will review these low- times in Simon Peter’s life. For now, let us stop and reflect upon our own lives. Let us consider the many times we have failed to own Christ as Lord. Denial of Christ does not always come in a crowded hall among hostile people. The more we learn of the Lord’s disciples, the more we learn of ourselves.
Simon, not a hypocrite
Simon was no hypocrite. A hypocrite never intends to be what he pretends to be. Do you love like the Lord? If your answer is no, then a second query follows: would you like to love like the Lord loves? If you answer, “yes,” you are not a hypocrite. You are a disciple, learning how to love. Do you live like the Lord lived? Would you like to live like the Lord? If you say, “yes,” you are not a hypocrite. You are a disciple, a learner. “Weakness” (humanity) is not hypocrisy. “Pretence” is hypocrisy. That is why Paul could write, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). It was Simon who would later write, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. . . . For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Pet. 1:6, 7; 2:21). In all of his humanity, his weakness and failures, it was Simon who preached the first Gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost. It was Simon who introduced the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 2, 10). God surely blessed Simon and He blesses us.
