I. Marvel at the Love of Jesus During His Darkest Hour (vv. 1-5)
A. He loved knowing his suffering was imminent (v. 1)
John 13:1 - Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
B. He loved amid active betrayal (v. 2)
John 13:2 - During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him.
C. He loved by doing the most lowly service (vv. 3-5)
John 13:3-5 - Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
II. Rejoice that His Cleansing Only Needs Done Once (vv. 6-11)
A. Foot washing symbolized salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross (vv. 6-8)
John 13:6-8 - So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
B. Cleansing is a once-for-all act (vv. 9-11)
John 13:9-11 - Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
III. Emulate the Standard of Loving Humble Service (vv. 12-16)
John 13:12-15 - So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 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.”
A. By having a heart of humility
Philippians 2:5-8 - Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
B. By doing what is required
IV. Enjoy the Blessings that Result from Following Jesus’ Example (v. 17)
John 12:47-48 - If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
John 13:17 - If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
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