09/03/2026
Do We Really Understand Who We Have As Our Saviour
John 13:12-38
Jesus was preparing the disciples for His death, burial and resurrection … And you wonder what they were thinking … Maybe they were debating with each other about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, as indicated in, Luke 22:24-27. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. Luk 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. Luk 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
V 12-14, They had no idea what He had done? And what He had done was to set an example for them, V 15, For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
It was an example, but yet some have tried to make it an ordinance. Some denominations see the example as a ordinance of the Church. Notice what He said. do as I have done to you … not “Do what I have done to you”. It is a lesson in serving others.
The example of the LORD is serving others: Some denominations see the example as a ordinance of the Church:
*) It is an act of hospitality done by a servant. Washing feet was a slave’s task … It was unheard of for the host to wash feet, 1 Timothy 5:10. Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
She had administered the work of a servant, a slave like task … She was serving others
[1Timothy 5:3-16 is a stand- alone study, regarding widows … That we will look at this in a coming service]
But yet Jesus washed their feet: The disciples called Him, Teacher and Lord = So,[ if He is their Teacher and Master, they should follow His example and serve one another. Jesus was not establishing foot washing as a third practice along with baptism and the Lord’s supper, for the Church Age.]
If that were the case, Paul would have given made that clear in his epistles. There is no record in the New Testament that the disciples washed each other’s feet. The ordinance of the Lord’s supper was established and not foot washing, 1 Cor. 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
Washing of the feet illustrates the depth of our love for Christ, in serving one another in the lowliest of tasks.
The washing of feet carries a message much greater than the physical act = Serving one another begins in the home. I remember being in a service where the Pastor conducted a service for the husbands to wash their wife’s feet. What was that Pastor doing? Answer: he was emphasizing that serving one another started in the home. We in humbleness of mind are to serve one another. Does not the Word of God say: Ephesians 5:28-33, i.e. V33, Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Loving your wife requires humbleness of mind … reverence for your husband requires humbleness of mind.
We are to have the mind of Christ, Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. That is a difficult verse at first glance to fully grasp: = We should not be so wrapped up in our own things … that we cannot see the needs of other … Paul in 1 Timothy 6 speaks about the same issue, 1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
*) If our Master willingly does the lowest of task so, should we. Everything in the Bible is not always about us. But His Words apply to all of us.
We are His servants; we are responsible for our life: 1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
When He comes, our Bema seat will be based on our faithfulness to what we knew, He wanted us to do.
God draws all people to Himself … Psalm 19:1, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psa 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. Psa 19:3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Romans 1:20-21, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
When someone seeks the LORD, He sends the gospel to them … He did in Acts 10:1-4; 11:1-14, and Acts 16:11-14.
Calvinism says, Christ did not die forever one, and if you are not one of the elect, you are doomed. The opposite end of that is this false teaching, you can only be born again by turning from your sins, committing your life to Christ, and following Christ, and you are saved as long as you follow Christ.
But that is not the truth of the Gospel. The Good News of the Gospel is that you are saved by faith in Christ … His work is a finished work: [Cf. John 1:12-13; John 3:16; 5:24, Romans 4:5, 1Cor. 1:17-18; Eph. 2: 8-10, 1 John 5:10-12]
At the GWTJ all stand condemned by their unbelief … their debt was paid, but they refused Him Who paid their debt. Their names were not found in the Book of Life. Their names are not in the Book of Life, because they did not believe on Jesus for eternal life … 1 John 2:25, And this is the promise that he hath promised us, eternal life. Will you receive His promise of Eternal Life, today?
In Revelation 22:16-17 is His plea for you to come, Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
You
