Here is a teaching on part 1 of chapter 13 of the book of John. If you want to check out previous Bible studies and chapters going forward, join our group here. Once you get added into that Facebook group, you can go to the "units" tab and you'll see all of the chapters and their study guides as they are being taught.
First I want to say a quick prayer... Lord I pray that you lift up every single person reading this right now. I pray that you open up our eyes to see the truth of your words. I pray that you open up our heart, our mind, our ears, and our soul to you Lord. Please give us knowledge and wisdom to know exactly what it is that we're reading and how to implement it in our daily lives. Lord please work through us to make an impact in other people's lives and use us as a vessel for your work. I pray that in every aspect of our lives you guide us and that we lean on you every step of the way. I love you with my whole heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.
John Chapter 13 Part 1:
1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time 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. 2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
So I'm going to stop right there and discuss these verses with you guys here. So first I wanted to point out in verses 1-2 that Jesus knew that his crucifixion and resurrection were near and that he would be going back to heaven soon. Where it says "the full extent of his love," that is laying down his life for the ones he loves. He's going to be laying down his life for the world, to save the world, to forgive us of our sins, and whoever believes in him shall have eternal life. He's making the ultimate sacrifice and that time was near for him to do that. So then in verses 3-5 Jesus was showing his love and affection towards his disciples and his humility. Him, as their master, was still able to humble himself and wash their feet. In those days people walked everywhere. They walked on dirt and no telling what else they walked on. Washing someone's feet was dirty and usually people washed their own feet. If someone did wash your feet it was someone that was in a lower status than you.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I'm 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!" 10 Jesus 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." 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
So Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet because Jesus was his master, they followed Jesus, and he was higher status than them. Jesus washed their feet so that they might understand the value of spiritual washing and cleansing of the soul. In verse 8 when Jesus says "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me," this is the washing of their sins. This is the spiritual cleansing of him dying on the cross to forgive us of our sins and his blood washes us white as snow. They didn't realize this at the time, just like he says in verse 7, but him washing his disciples feet was a demonstration showing the sacrificial love that he has for them, that he's going to wash them of their sins, and the importance of spiritual cleansing.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
These are all of the verses that I'm going to be reading here in part 1 but I want to discuss these last verses with you guys here. So in these verses Jesus was showing his authority, but also leading by example. He was showing that as Christians we have to humble ourselves, show love to one another, and not think that we're better than anyone else. Jesus had all the authority in the world. He could have condemned people and judged them, but instead he made the ultimate sacrifice for the ones he loves (for us.) He died on the cross to forgive us of our sins so that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Where he says "Wash one another's feet," what I think he meant here is for them to serve each other and help to prepare each other to have a new life through Jesus Christ. Whenever we're saved and we ask Jesus to come into our lives and we're baptized, we have a new life. We have eternal life through Christ, we're not of this world, and when it's our time to go we're going to be going to heaven with him.
John Ch 13 Part 1 Study Guide
In verse 1, what does it mean by “he now showed them the full extent of his love?”
In verse 8, why did Peter not want Jesus to wash his feet?
What example was Jesus showing when he washed his disciples’ feet?
Why do you think that Jesus told his disciples that they should also wash one another’s feet?
What is your biggest takeaway from this Bible Study?
So all of these verses that I read here are so significant and important because this shows the love that Jesus had for his disciples. He humbled himself to wash their feet, something that a person normally would do that was of a lower status, and he showed that love and affection towards them. He led by example and told them to also show that sacrificial love to each other and that's so important for us to remember. We're not better than anyone else. Everyone's journey is different but we as Christians should help others along the way and show that love and affection towards them. We have to love each other, humble ourselves, spread the gospel and love and light to others.
So that concludes this Bible study. Next week we're going to get into part 2 of chapter 13 so make sure you stay tuned for that.
I love you guys so much.
Never forget to choose faith over fear.
-Lorena Camille (Faith Fuels My Fire)
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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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