Full on For God - John 13:1-10 - by Ps Jeremy
1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time(or hour) had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." (NIV)
1. Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
The opening verse of chapter 13 sets the scene for the whole of chapters 13-17. Love is one of the key terms in chapters 13-17, occurring 31 times in these 5 chapters as compared to only 6 times in chapters 1--12. Jesus now shows his disciples the full extent [eis telos] of his love. Full extent could also be translated to the last and ultimate extend. (A colloquil saying in Australia is full-on)
Love is the laying down of one's life, and therefore to love completely means to love to the end of one's life (cf. 1 Jn 3:16). The love that has been evident throughout continues right up to the end. At the end, in the crucifixion, we will see the ultimate revelation of that love, that is, its full extent.
This is now the 3rd or 4th Passover mentioned (2:13; 6:4; perhaps 5:1). The shadow of the cross has been evident from the very outset through the references to Jesus' hour (hora). Jesus now knows that his hour has arrived (translated time in the NIV).
While this first verse introduces the whole section through chapter 17, it also introduces the account of the foot-washing in particular. For the love that is evident in the laying down of life at the crucifixion is also demonstrated in the laying down of life in humble service in the foot washing. In the foot washing we have "an acted parable of the Lord's humiliation unto death" A parable in Action.
2. Now let us have a more detailed look at the text:
i) V1-3 - There is always an hour or a moment when we will have to make some very crucial decisions. What does The “full extent of Jesus love” means to you? Can you feel it?
In these few verse – it gives us a complete Gospel message in a nutshell. The hour has come.
V3 – says Christ is above all – His Supremacy!
He came from God is the Christmas Story. He returns to God – the Good Friday and Easter.
ii) V4-5 The ultimate paradox – the master becomes the servant – to die is to live. To lower oneself is to have a higher or more noblle character. Amen?
- Digress to - Deut 27-28 The proclamation of blessings and a curses - why does the Isralites only required to say Amen when the curses were pronounced? To take responsibility for wrongs. No one need to take responsibilty for blessings...
--- After Jesus finishes washing their feet, he puts his outer garment back on and returns to his place, asking, Do you understand what I have done for you? (v. 12). They will not completely understand until they have seen the cross (v. 7), but they can at least grasp his act as an example of humility.
Listen, likewise, we will never understand certain things until God led you through it.
iii) V6-9 Peter’s full on attitude – Full on! - Either I am in or I am out! – don’t wash me or wash me totally – I want to be fully in Christ.
iv) Washing of feet is enough – feet symbolize our foundation, our stand. Where do you stand today?
In response to Peter's rejection (v. 8) Jesus says cryptically, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me (v8). The word for part (meros) can be used of one's share in an inheritance (cf. Lk 15:12), though other words are more commonly used for this idea (meris, kleros and kleronomia). Remind us of the Psalmsist - who said "The Lord is my portion"
Peter was motivated by self confidence. It doesn't take long for him to realised his own weaknesses. He denied the Lord three times before the cock crow. But Jesus did say he will build his church upon this Rock. The rock is not Peter as a person, but his confession that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, the Messiah, the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
Jesus was "full on" for us. He gave his all and gave it to the full extend.
Conclusion:
1. Are you full on for God? Why and why not? Have you know what Jesus had done for you?
2. Are you willing to say Amen and take responsibilty for your action? Deut 27-28
3. Are your feet washed? And where are you standing on? Truth of God – the the Torah, the prophets and the writings, the gospel etc. or just your own turf? I will built my church!! Not on the vacillating Peter but the confessed truth he just spoke! (See Matthew 16:18)
James warns the double minded person – toss about and won’t get anywhere.