John - Week 40

Time for Supper 

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John 13:1-3 

Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 

Chapters 13-17 in John’s gospel is what is commonly called “The Upper Room Discourse.” He had loved them and would love them until the end of His earthly life, which included His sacrifice on the cross for them and the world. Because there was more than one Judas in the New Testament, it is common to tell which Judas by naming his father. In fact, one of the half-brothers of Jesus was Judas, also called “Jude” and likely author of the Book of Jude. Even though Jesus was facing the terrible end of His earthly life, His confidence was in the heavenly Father to whom He would be returning after His physical death. 

REFLECT 

When facing death whenever it might come, do you have the peace of knowing you will go to be with Jesus, just as He knew He would be going to His heavenly Father? If so, have you shared your peace with someone? 

RESPOND 

Tell someone how you plan to face death as a believer in Christ. Make a list of those you want to tell this week. This will raise the question of how you can be sure of this, which will give you opportunity to share the gospel with them. 

Washing the Disciple's Feet 

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John 13:4-5 

4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. 

What a shock this must have been to the disciples! Jesus was doing what was customarily the duty of a slave. Now Jesus is doing that for the disciples. Because of the confidence of Jesus in the authority given to Him by the Father and being sure He was eventually going to the Father, He had no problem being a servant to others. 

REFLECT 

Knowing who you really are in God’s care allows you to do whatever others need when you are able to help.  

RESPOND 

What can you do this week to serve others to show them you love Jesus and love to help others as He did? Read what Jesus said about servants in Matthew 23:11-12. 

Someday You Will Understand 

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John 13:6-9 

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” 9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!” 

Not everyone likes to be humbly served by another. Peter reacted when Jesus came to wash his feet. He insisted Jesus would never wash his feet. He changed his mind, however, when Jesus said if He did not wash his feet, Peter would not even belong to Him. Then Peter wanted his entire body washed. But notice Jesus had already told Peter he would not understand then what He was doing. This indicates there was just more than the washing of the feet that was involved. 

REFLECT 

Like Peter, have you seen God work in your life in a way you did not fully understand until later? What is an incident you can recall? 

RESPOND 

When someone is resisting your help, what can you do or say to comfort them that all is well? 

One way may be to tell them you love Jesus and you love to help others just as He did.  

Not All of You Are Clean 

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John 13:10-11 

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 

In this passage, Jesus moves from the physical to the spiritual. This indicates He washed their feet to teach a spiritual lesson. One who has trusted in Jesus for salvation is clean except for something that might come between him and the Savior. That needs to be confessed and is equivalent to the washing of the feet to be “entirely clean.” Not all of the Twelve were clean, however, as He knew who had not trusted in Him as Savior and would betray Him.  

REFLECT 

If you have trusted in Jesus as Savior, you are clean, to use the terminology Jesus used. But are there some unconfessed sins you need to confess to Him so you can be entirely clean? 

RESPOND 

Read 1 John 1:8-10 to see what is to be done when fellowship within the family of God is broken. Notice this verse says nothing about how you will feel. If you take God at His word, your feelings will catch up to the truth you have learned.  

Setting an Example 

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John 13:12-14 

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.” 

The fact that Jesus asked the disciples if they knew what He was doing reveals there was more than just the washing of feet involved. Just as He their Teacher and Lord has served them, He wanted them to serve others. This likely involves more than physical needs, as He was teaching a spiritual lesson in what He did. They needed to help others physically, but more importantly they needed to help others spiritually. This would involve encouraging and helping fellow believers to live an even more God-honoring life.  

REFLECT 

With the focus up to now being on helping others physically, are there some you can think of who needs your spiritual help? Think about how you can wisely do this.  

RESPOND 

Read Galatians 6:1-3 that tells how one believer is to help another. Notice especially it is to be done “gently and humbly.” Be on guard that you do not become guilty of the same sin you are trying to help someone else with.