a) The Lord Jesus had washed the feet of His Disciples
b) This was unheard of
c) This had never been done
A Master washing the feet of His Disciples!
2. The Disciples must have struggled with this
a) Peter certainly struggled with this
b) Initially, he refused to allow the Lord Jesus to wash his feet
c) He felt terribly unworthy of such a deed done for him!
WHAT WAS THE INTENDED MEANING BEHIND FOOT-WASHING?
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, 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 should do as I have done to you.
16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 13:10-17
1. The Lesson of Cleansing
a) This lesson had to be learned thoroughly
b) Two aspects of cleansing were being taught:
i) The Cleansing that takes place at Salvation
This accounts for the cleansing of all our sins in the past!
ii) The Daily Cleansing that must be done again and again
We live in the world and we are bound to be tainted by sin.
This requires daily cleansing!
c) Judas did not have the first cleansing nor the second one
Thus the Lord Jesus said, “You are not all clean”John 13:11
2. The Lesson of being a true spiritual leader
a) The Lord Jesus was many things to the Disciples. But two aspects were highlighted:
i) Lord
ii) Teacher (John 13:12)
b) The Lord Jesus was indeed both to the Disciples!
c) What was the spirit of a true Lord and Teacher?
i) The Lord Jesus washed the feet of His Disciples
ii) This displayed His Spirit
3. The Lesson about not being affected by wrong ideas of leadership(Dealing with the problem of leadership ideas among the Disciple)
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
They said to Him, “We are able.”
23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:20-28
a) James and John wanted to be appointed as significant leaders
b) The other Disciples were upset with them
c) The Lord Jesus had to warn them not to be influenced by Gentile-leadership thinking
d) True leadership is about serving and not exercising authority
4. The Lesson of practising humble leadership through foot-washing
a) It is not just about having knowledge
b) It is about following the example of the Lord Jesus in real life
15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 13:15-17
i) The Example of the Lord Jesus must be borne in mind
ii) The challenge is to practise what the Lord Jesus did
iii) The heart of a true servant must be cultivated (not easy)
iv) The blessing lies in doing what the Lord Jesus exemplified
CONCLUSION
1. Daily cleansing is needed
a) Recognition of the need for cleansing
b) Seeking cleansing
2. The right understanding of servant-leadership must be: