Final Words: John 13:1-17

Final Words: Pick Up The Towel

January 28th, 2024/Casey Middle School

Passage: John 13:1-17 CSB

Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. 4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said. Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, 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 also should do just as I have done for you. 16 “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Pray:

Background:

This event takes place just before the Jewish festival of Passover. Jesus is aware that his time on Earth is coming to an end, and he is preparing his disciples for his departure. He takes His disciples to the upper room for the Last Supper.

Prior to the feet washing, the disciples were arguing over who is the greatest. This is wild! This is like me and Quin sitting in a room with Michael Jordan having a conversation on “Who is the GOAT?”. Talk about the inability to read the room.

They’ve been with Jesus for years, watched how He humbled Himself time and time again, yet they still didn’t get it. Jesus corrects them by giving them an illustration about going out to dinner. “For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.” (Luke 22:27) Mic drop. This is now more commonly known by business executives and CEOs as the “waiter rule”.

After this, Jesus takes it to another level and moves on to an object lesson on humility and service, washing the feet of his disciples. In those times, washing the feet of guests was a common practice due to the dusty roads and open sandals. *I think it should still be a common practice today. However, it was usually done by servants, namely gentile slaves. By performing this task, Jesus overturns social norms and demonstrates a profound act of love and humility.

Title: Pick Up A Towel

Big Idea: True leadership is recognizing the needs of others and picking up the towel to serve.

Main Points: The Definition of Christ-like Servant Leadership

1. THE EXAMPLE: HUMILITY

   1. Motivated by love (1-2)
      1. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2. This is what God himself is like--he washes feet, even the feet of the one who will betray him!

   1. Maybe you are serving because you know it will give you favor
   2. Maybe you are serving because you hope to get something later
   3. You could also be serving others because it simply makes you feel better about yourself.
   4. Serving with ulterior motives is not generated from a spirit of love, but self improvement and love towards self.
   5. Paul writes “Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus…”
   6. True servanthood is grounded in genuine love, humility, and the motive is others, never self.

3. Initiate the humble act (4-5)

   1. So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.

   2. The hands that formed the heavens and the earth, stooped low to hold the feet of His disciples.

      1. “My own hand founded the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens;” - Isaiah 48:13

         3. The Father had put all this in Jesus' hands, and with His hands He picked up a towel to wash dirty feet.

      2. “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.” - John 3:35

         4. Practical Examples:

      3. Boss: Pick up a towel and serve your team

      4. Serve Team: Pick up a towel and serve your co-laborers
      5. Employees: Pick up a towel and serve your co-workers
      6. Friends: Pick up a towel and serve your friends
      7. Christian: Pick up a towel and serve your neighbors
      8. Father/Mother: Pick up a towel and serve your kids

      9. Husband/Wife: Pick up a towel and serve your spouse

         5. Illust: Manuel Squat - Natural vs. Supernatural

      10. It takes practice and stretching to make significant improvement.

      11. Start now, start small, and stay faithful.
          6. With these hands I will…
      12. Protect the ones that I love
      13. Give to the poor
      14. Work as unto the Lord
      15. Lift them high in praise
      16. And I will pick up the towel to serve

4. OUR RESPONSE: HOLINESS

   1. Allow others to serve you (6-7)
      1. He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.” “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said.

      2. At first, I actually liked Peter’s posture here. He isn’t looking for Jesus to serve him. And it seems rational that Peter would feel this way. But if you examine the text, you will see that Peter had the opportunity to wash Jesus' feet, instead he chose to argue with the other disciples on who was the greatest.

         1. We can’t know Peter’s heart here. But I wonder if it wasn’t only that Jesus shouldn’t be doing this task, but that Peter didn’t think he should be doing it either. 3. Illust: Have you ever seen your boss carrying out a task that you knew was your responsibility, yet when you saw her doing it, you didn’t think “I should have taken care of that already”, instead you thought “someone should have done that.”

         2. This is not a noble or humble response. Instead it is that of entitlement and apathy. 4. The passage is first about Jesus washing Peter. Here’s how I’d apply it to us: we should not take extremes in allowing others to serve us.

         3. Don’t take the mindset “Why aren’t others serving me?” This makes everything about you and causes you to minimize moments where people do serve you and you live with a spirit of entitlement.
         4. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45
         5. Don’t take the mindset “Nobody’s going to serve me” This also makes everything about you and causes you to miss a blessing that God has for you.

         6. Story: This is a trap I fall into very easily. For those in service industry, you become accustomed to serving others and it can feel wrong to receive service from others, but this should not be the case.

            1. A simple statement that has been said in both mine and Jess’s households growing up is “Don’t rob someone of a blessing.” A simple statement that carries so much truth. 5. Simon Sinek was speaking on the subject of overcoming tremendous obstacles in our lives and he said “The single greatest lesson I have learned in my career, that profoundly changed my life… that comes right before the realization and articulation of “why”. I learned how to ask for help, and I learned how to accept it when it was offered… helping someone is a team sport.” 5. Peter must have recalled this moment when he wrote “All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” - 1 Peter 5:5
               2. Want all that Jesus offers (8-9)
                  1. Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”
                  2. Peter reminds me of someone that goes all in regardless of having all the information available.

         7. You know the statement “ready, aim, fire”? Well Peter is more of a “fire, aim, ready” kind of guy.

         8. Remember Peter jumping out of the boat and walking on water? Or drawing a sword and striking the high priest’s servant (John 18:10)?

         9. Here Peter says “You will never wash my feet!” then seconds later “Wash my whole body Jesus!” 3. Application: I would rather be all in with Jesus, regardless of having all the information, than hesitant to receive all that He has to offer me.

         10. Application #2: Jesus wants to forgive and cleanse all of your life. Nothing is hidden from God. Don’t reject that which Jesus is offering to wash and make new in your life.

         11. THE OUTCOME: HAPPINESS
             1. Teach by example (12, 15)
                1. 12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you?
                2. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

5. What does Jesus have in mind? Some have established a foot washing ceremony, either as a separate service or as part of the Maundy Thursday service.

   1. The next sentences are from Rodney A. Whitacre, John (IVP New Testament Commentary), on John 13.
   2. Jesus, however, does not say to do "what" he did but "as" he did. The cleansing and the further footwashing are symbolic of the revelation that Jesus gave of the Father, and thus the disciples are called to embody this same revelation.
   3. The disciples are to pass on the same teaching that Jesus has displayed both in Word and action.
   4. Insecure people seek titles and positions, but secure people in Christ reach for towels and take on a posture of humility.
   5. If you’re too big to serve, then you’re too small to lead!
   6. If serving is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you!

   7. Story: Take the seat of humility - Luke 14

   8. This is a beautiful story Jesus is telling the guests at a Pharisee’s house about a wedding banquet. He tells of a man that shows up to a wedding and takes the seat of honor. If a more distinguished guest shows up, then that man would then be asked to take a lower seat at the table and experience public humiliation. Instead, He says to take the lowest seat, then when the host invites you to the higher seat, then you will be honored in the presence of the other guests. He concludes by saying “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

   9. Everyone wants the title of leadership, but not everyone can handle the weight of leadership.

   10. If you step into leadership prideful, then you will eventually be brought low.

       1. “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” - Proverbs 16:18

          2. If you take the example of Christ, then you will be honored.

       2. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” - James 4:10

6. Live a blessed life (16-17)

   1. “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
   2. Be a blessing, and don’t rob people of a blessing. Serve others, humbly and thankfully receive service from others, and you will be blessed and happy. God’s favor is a gift, and serving positions us to enjoy it.

Closing: Pick Up The Towel

Jesus illustrated perfectly what Paul would write years later…

“Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“ Philippians 2:5-11

Invitation:

If you want to make a decision to follow Jesus. Then join me and everyone else in the building as we pray out loud together. It’s not the prayer that saves you, but your faith, making Jesus Lord of your life. We don’t let anyone go on the journey alone. If you have faith in Jesus, then let’s join together as we pray…

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free

Conclusion:

If you prayed that prayer for the first time then Scripture says “anyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge them before my Father”. I’m going to ask that if you prayed that prayer for the first time would you lift your hand and let me know so that I can celebrate with you.

1. God is so proud of you.

2. The angels are rejoicing.

3. And we believe God has a purpose for your life.

Would you let us know that you made a decision so that we can follow up with you and help you on your next step