JOHN
CHAPTER 13.
13:1-11. The
Necessary Washing for Discipleship. This
section describes the Lord's act of washing the disciple’s feet and his
explanatory conversation with Peter. His
discussion with Peter suggests that the feet-washing be regarded as symbolic of
his mediatorial work for our salvation.
The Lord is emphatic: "Unless I wash you, you have no part with
me." This creates a difficulty in
interpretation, for in what way must we regard our participation in Jesus
Christ. Is it necessary to salvation?
The washing of the disciple’s feet must be regarded as
symbolic of his work and also a lesson in humility and service for others, and
his work is that. This is a new section of the Gospel. The Lord's public ministry ceased at chapter
12:50 and the new section of the Gospel comprises chapter 13 to the end of
chapter 20. This section has been called
the Book of the Passion, and during chapters 13-17 the Lord prepares his disciples
for his departure to the Father. In
fact, the matter of his departure is the central idea of these five chapters,
and the teaching they contain is deigned to prepare his disciples to understand
the necessity of his departure to the Father.
And the way he must go to the Father was by means of the Cross,
resurrection and ascension.
The chapter opens with a declaration of his enduring love to
his own. His love for them was complete
and would not fail. In what he was about
to do he showed them the full extent of his love. Jesus was conscious of the Divine dignity
that was his, he had come from God and was returning to God. His task had been fulfilled. The Father had put all things under his power
and he was complete with all mediatorial authority to accomplish the work of
salvation.
Though endowed with all power he was willing to perform the
task of a slave. He got up from the
meal, took off the outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist in order
to wash their feet. We can only bow in
reverence and wonder before such love and humility. His ministry for which he girded himself was
rich in lessons on humility, love and service for others. We learn from Luke 22 that a dispute had
arisen among the disciples as to which of them was considered to be the
greatest. The Lord now gave to his
disciples a practical lesson on humility and service to one another.
The conversation with Peter also implies a deep religious
symbolism in what Jesus did. What Jesus
did at the time Peter could not understand or discern, but he would perceive
the meaning hereafter, that is, when the work of redemption was complete and
the Comforter had come. The Lord said to
Peter, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." The feet-washing then is fundamental. Does this cleansing confer membership of
Christ? This may be the meaning and many
commentators think so. Many regard
"bathed" and "washed" as synonymous. We are inclined to accept the feet-washing as
pointing to the confession of our sins that a walk or life in fellowship with
Christ may be maintained. However, Jesus
must wash the feet of his disciples and maintain the integrity of their
Christian life. Judas too submitted to having his feet washed, but he could not
be moved by the love and humility that Jesus showed. His heart was unmoved by the occasion. No evidence can be effective unless it is
received by faith.
13:12-20. The
Authority of Discipleship. This section
contains instruction on the nature of discipleship. The Lord's act in washing their feet provided
a pattern, "I have set you an example." The authority implicit in discipleship is the
right and readiness to give humble service to our brother disciples. The essence of Christian authority is to give
service to others. For leadership among
God's people consists not in lording it over others, but for the service of
others in humility. Jesus had taken the
place of a slave that he might perform this service for others. The Incarnation
and the Cross meant the divesting of his garment of glory that others should be
cleansed from defilement. He was the
Servant of the Lord that he might cleanse the people of God.
Should Christians literally carry out this rite? Some have done so. But its performance may be theatrical and a
travesty of the beautiful pattern of humble service that Jesus gave. Its permanent lesson is that we give humble
service, to correct the way of those who go astray, and that we continue to
encourage all to press on in the path of discipleship, that they follow the
Lord closely at all times.
Jesus our Lord and Teacher possessed all authority but he
stoops to serve his disciples in washing their feet. A pupil was obliged to wash his rabbi's feet,
but Jesus their Lord and Teacher had washed the feet of his disciples. They must learn from him. In their love to him they must express in
service to one another. No one should
consider himself too great to serve another.
In the doing of such service, true happiness would be found.
It is a mistake to think that he who would be greatest would
be the happiest. From another Gospel
writer we learn that some of the disciples contended as to who would be the
greatest, but love gives humble service.
The excellent example that Jesus gave was that it is better to serve
than to seek greatness. Therefore, to
serve others must be our constant aim.
The Lord taught by means of an example, and there is no better way to
teach. He said to his disciples,
"that you should do as I have done for you." In this is discovered the authority God has
given us, rather than in a desire to be the greatest.
The deceitfulness of Judas Iscariot did not take the Lord by
surprise. The Lord's foreknowledge as to
Judas would eventually convince the disciples that they accompanied a Divine
Person. The T.E.V. translates the words
of verse 19, "so that when it does happen you will believe `I am Who I
am'."
13:21-30. The
Unmasking of a False Disciple. The Lord
knew all about Judas, however, He does not unmask him until Satan had entered
Judas. However, just before this, the
Lord dipped a piece of bread in the sauce and gave it to Judas. This surely, was a sign of his love to
him. It was a final appeal, but he knew
what Judas Iscariot intended to do. So
he enjoins him that what he was about to do, do quickly. The hour had come and the Lord knew that
Judas could no longer share in the fellowship of the meal. The statement "And it was night"
must anticipate not only the darkness of the night, for wicked men do their
evil deeds when night falls, but it
would anticipate the darkness that had fallen on Judas.
13:31-35. The Proof
of Discipleship. Jesus, the Son of Man,
had been glorified in his washing the disciples feet, as this was symbolic of
his death by which He was glorified.
In this section the Lord spoke of the love that the
disciples should have for one another.
Love unites the people of God.
The Lord gave a new command that the disciples love one another. This is described as a new command since its
motive was the Cross of Jesus. In the
practicing of such love we preach the Cross.
The church must manifest this love that proceeds from Christ, serving
with humility, full of deeds of kindness and showing mercy and friendliness to
all.
That we should love one another is very important for our
testimony to the world. "In this
shall all men know that you are my disciples" (13:35). In bearing much fruit we shall show ourselves
to be Christ's disciples (15:8). Christ
prays that we may be one, for their oneness the world may come to believe that
the Father sent the Son (17:21).
13:36-38. An
Inadequate Understanding of Discipleship.
Peter could not understand that Jesus must suffer and die. It was the path that Jesus must tread, but
others would follow later for he went as the Forerunner. Peter could not follow now, but he would
follow later. But Peter must learn his
dependence is upon the Lord. He had not
yet grasped the full cost of obedience, and neither did he know his own
weakness. He must learn that only in
Christ could he be strong.
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