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, but is completely clean. And you 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.”
John 13:1-11
Preface
We are celebrating our church’s 25th anniversary. In the past 25 years, there were a lot of God’s graces, in responding to that we hope that in the next 25 years we’ll work with Him to get what He wants. In order to do that we have to understand what He wants. This series (Jesus’ Heart John 13:-17:) is an effort to get to understand what Jesus wants.
John 13: -17:
The events and words recorded in John 13:-17: are mostly unique, they have not been recorded in the other 3 Gospels. I think, it took John years to fully appreciate what Jesus did and said that night, when He finally understood it, he used almost a quarter of his book to record the event and the words Jesus said. One of the reasons why it took John so long (about 50 years since that night) to appreciate it was that these words will only be fully understood and appreciated when you serve God. What we are going to share in this series is just a pointer. I pray that you serve Him just like John did then you, too, will come to understand and appreciate these words.
Began with Love, Resulted in Service
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” With these words, John explained why Jesus did what He did. He did everything because He loved us. This love started before time and will extend to eternity (never ends). This love is the reason for what Jesus has done and will do. If you ever have the question – why did God do this to me? The answer is “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John, in the 50 years since he experienced this that night until he wrote the Gospel, I think, he has asked the question numerous times – why did Jesus wash our feet? There could be multiple reasons. He may want to teach us humility; He may want us to help each other, and He may want to assure us that He will help us to get through our temptation until He returns. But the ultimate answer John believed was, that Jesus washed their foot, simply because He loved them. What a sweet reason, one that we can rest our souls in.
From that love spring forth the service. No matter lowly the work is love always gets lower. Love is not just a word, a feeling, or some empty promise, it will always show itself in many ways, among them services to the one you love. Paul said to the Ephesian elders, “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears.” Acts 20:18-19. No matter how low it gets and no matter how much you will have to pay, love will always find a way to get it done.
Raisins & Apples Bible Devotional & more 