December 8, 2010
"TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES"
John 13:1-20
Charlie Albright
Central Truth
Jesus Christ has set an example for His disciples of how to serve others.
Key Verse | John 13:14–15
"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you." (John 13:14-15)
John 13:1-20
Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it 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 had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, 1 13:10 Some manuscripts omit except for his feet but is completely clean. And you 2 13:10 The Greek words for you in this verse are plural are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant 3 13:16 Or bondservant, or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface) is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 4 13:18 Greek But in order that the Scripture may be fulfilled ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Dive Deeper | John 13:1-20
"On my honor, I will do my best . . . to help other people at all times." For the past six years I have said these words every Monday night in the oath we recite before each Boy Scout meeting. Whenever I recite it, I am reminded of my calling as a Scout to serve others as often as possible. Because of scouting, service to others has been a big part of my life that I strive to get better at. I am blessed with a unique opportunity to serve others every week, whether it is helping younger Scouts advance, serving as a leader in the troop, or participating in troop service projects.
One of my favorite ways to serve others through scouting happens every year in October. Our troop spends six evenings building a giant slide for Northwest Bible Church's Fall Festival. Sure, putting up the scaffolding and framework are hard work, but I am always rewarded when I see how much fun all the kids are having the night of the party. The feeling of not only serving others, but also being able to see them benefiting from the time you invested in them, is a very hard feeling to beat.
In John 13 Jesus sets a perfect example for His disciples of how to serve others. He later goes on to perform the ultimate service to the human race: Dying on the cross for our sins. Although we probably don't get down on our hands and knees and commence to scrub on someone's toes, daily service towards others is a great way to show people what Christianity is about. Whether it's serving the poor in your community or simply holding the door open for someone else, God is calling us as Christians to set an example for the world about how we should serve one another.
Discussion Questions
1. In what areas of your life do you feel that God is pushing you to serve others?
2. In what ways have you personally served others in the past week?
3. What are some things you can do in the future to serve others rather than yourself?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is the dirtiest job to do in your house? Who typically does that job?
2. Talk about what the feet of the people back then would have been like. Think about sandals and dirt roads.
3. Why was Simon Peter shocked that Jesus was washing his feet?
4. What command does Jesus give them in verses 14 and 15?
5. How can you serve and love those around you with things that they may not want to do?