|
Intro about humility in that day (Piper)
I. A Lesson on Humility; Jesus and the Father (1-5)
a. What Jesus Knew 1-3
b. What Jesus Did 4-5
c. To him that knows what to do and does it not, to him it is sin (James 4:17)
V.2 Judas was an unbeliever (John 6:64) and did not have the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)
V.5 Jesus’ foot washing was an example of humility and service (v. 15). In Middle Eastern countries, it was the slaves who washed the feet of guests; here Christ took the place of a slave. He makes this clear to His disciples in vv. 13–16: if their Lord and Teacher have washed their feet, then they should wash one another’s feet and serve each other in humility. This must have been a striking rebuke to the Twelve, for just that evening, they had been debating who was to be the greatest! (See Luke 22:24–27.)
It has well been said that humility is not thinking meanly of yourself; it is simply not thinking of yourself at all.
II. A Lesson on Holiness; Jesus and Peter (6-11)
v. 8- There is a difference between union and communion; sonship and fellowship
We must continue is fellowship with Christ after being converted
In v. 10, Christ makes an important distinction between washing and cleansing. The verse reads literally: “He that has been once-and-for-all washed all over does not need to do anything more than cleanse his feet.” In Eastern lands, people used public baths; as they walked in the dusty streets, their feet became dirty. On arriving home, they did not need another bath; they needed only to wash their feet. So it is with the believer. When we are saved, we are washed all over (1 Cor. 6:9–11; Titus 3:5–6); when we confess our daily sins to the Lord, we have our feet washed and our “walk” is cleansed (1 John 1:7–9).
Christ is cleansing His church through the water of the Word (Eph. 5:25–26; John 15:3). As we daily read the Word, allow the Spirit to search our hearts (Heb. 4:12), and then confess our sins, we keep our feet clean and walk in the light. (See Ps. 119:9.)
III. A Lesson on Happiness; Jesus and the Disciples (12-17)
Be sure to keep these lessons in their proper sequence: humbleness, holiness, happiness. Submit to the Father, keep your life clean, and serve others. This is God’s formula for true spiritual joy
a. The world is pursuing happiness like chasing a shadow, it is always just beyond their reach
b. 1 Peter 2:21
c. Serve others, pursue holiness, and do what He tells us = happiness
|