“A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JOHN” ST. JOHN 13:12-20

An Amazing Example of Love and Humility at the Feet of the Disciples

In our previous section (St. John 13:1-11), we saw the amazing condescension of our Lord being vividly portrayed as He washes and dries the feet of His disciples.  He demonstrated this awesome act knowing full well that Judas will betray Him (St. John 13:26; Psalm 41:9); Peter will deny Him (St. John 13:37-38); and the disciples, for the most part, will forsake Him (Matthew 26:56).  In this section of John’s gospel presentation (chapters 13-17), our Lord demonstrates the full extent of His love, for “He loved them unto the end.”  In fact, the pre-eminence of His love is mentioned in chapter 13:1, and it concludes in His High Priestly prayer in verse 26 of St. John 17, that says: “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love where with thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Our Lord begins and ends with love for His own.  I was so elated when I read both verses:  St. John 13:1 and St. John 17:26.  For a child of God, Jesus’ love is never affected by our failures, frailties, faults, weaknesses or even by our circumstances.  He loves us unto the end.  However, sin in the life of a child of God affects his fellowship, not his relationship or sonship.  And because our feet will get soiled in our Christian walk, we need to know that provision has been made for cleansing as we confess, for I John 1:9 says – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

In our lesson, having washed the soiled feet of His disciples (v. 12-14), Jesus was vitally concerned that the disciples gain the proper spiritual significance of His act of foot-washing.  No degree of service done in love and in humility is too menial for a child of God.

If the Lord and Master performed a lowly task, so can each child of God, whose heart forgives and who gives of himself sacrificially (Matthew 5:23-24; Ephesians 4:32).  This act of foot-washing represents more than an ordinance that may be practiced by the church.  On another occasion foot-washing was practiced in the New Testament in I Timothy 5:10, where a Christian widow exercised hospitality by washing the feet of saints.  According to verses 15 and 16, it is apparent that our Lord’s intent was to bring out a deeper meaning.  Jesus’ act of foot-washing served as an example of inner humility and love – serving others in humility and love despite their human frailties and weaknesses.  Remember, Jesus served these disciples in sacrificial love despite the fact that they are going to desert Him during His hour of greatest need.

As Christians, we need to exhibit this same sacrificial love as Christ does even when those we minister to have harmed us!  What tremendous love Christ has for His own – “He loved them unto the end.”  According to verse 17, God will bless those who practice what they know.  Christians are blessed and are happy when they are obedient servants.  As we conclude our lesson, in verses 18-20, Christ reveals His omniscience, for He knew that Judas Iscariot will betray Him, for Psalm 41:9 is a prophecy that forecasted Judas’ betrayal.  In that verse, Ahithophel, David’s trusted counselor had betrayed him by joining with David’s son, Absalom.  Ahithophel’s action was a picture of Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus, one he had companionship with for three and half years.