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Welcome to this Bible Study. Read what I have written slowly. If you have a
Bible look up the reference verses given, and allow the Holy Spirit to
minister to your soul through them. |
We are beginning to look at several chapters in the Gospel of John which
contain mainly the words of Jesus Himself. This is why the book is known as a
teaching Gospel. How carefully we must listen to what Jesus said as every word
is important to us, showing more of what God is like and giving us instruction
on how to find life and then live it. All the while, Jesus knows that just
ahead of Him is the dark period of His sorrow as He takes on Himself the sin
of the world.
Chapter 12
| 44 | Then Jesus cried out and said, ‘He who
believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. |
| 45 | And he who sees Me
sees Him who sent Me.’ |
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All through His ministry, Jesus is careful to show that His mission is to obey
the Father and to bring glory to Him. In these words He is turning the
attention of His hearers to His Father so that they will not fail to see the
oneness there is between Father and Son. |
| 46 | ‘I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes
in Me should not abide in darkness. |
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This is the mission of the Lord. To bring the truth to mankind. To see eyes
opened and some understanding of God penetrate the minds of human beings.
There is now no longer need for anyone to grope about in ignorance because the
light of God has been shining for all to see. |
| 47 | ‘And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not
judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. |
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In coming to bring light, Jesus did not include any condemnation of those who
refuse to see that light. Such judgment is kept for later on. Now, His task is
the salvation of sinners — a great work of mercy. |
| 48 | ‘He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that
which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the
last day.’ |
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There is a coming day of reckoning. Those who have heard the words of Jesus
will have no excuse for their refusal to take note of His message and accept
it. Refusal to accept His words means the rejection of Him as Son of God and
the rejection of God Himself. How serious is that! |
| 49 | ‘For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father
who sent me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. |
| 50 | And
I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just
as the Father has told Me, so I speak.’ |
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Jesus is emphasizing that His words have all the authority of God behind them.
We do well to realize that there has been no other person in the history of
mankind who has given to us the actual words of God. We can have every
confidence in these words as Jesus clearly showed in many ways that He truly
was the Son of God. |
Chapter 13
| 1 | Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew
that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father,
having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. |
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Perhaps it is a little difficult to see exactly in what order the events of
this chapter through to chapter 18 took place. It is plain that the disciples
and Jesus were in the Upper Room described in the other Gospels. The Passover
meal was eaten, (a Jewish memorial) followed by the institution of the bread
and wine ritual (the Last Supper), speaking of the body and blood of Jesus.
Also, Jesus at some point sent Judas on his way to carry out the betrayal. In
this period, Jesus gave all the teaching that is recorded in chapters 14 to
16. This chapter opens with the warm touch of the constant and unfailing love
of Jesus. |
| 2 | And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into
the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, |
| 3 | Jesus, knowing
that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from
God and was going to God, |
| 4 | rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a
towel and girded Himself. |
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The group of twelve was reclining at the table with Jesus. Judas, who was a
disciple, had a love of money which the devil exploited. He gave Judas the
thought of betrayal and Judas accepted it. It was an act of blatant treachery
for which we need have no sympathy. Not only did Jesus know what Judas would
do but He knew all the other disciples accurately as well. He was about to
teach them something through His actions. |
| 5 | After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the
disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was
girded. |
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It was a common thing in those days for feet to be washed in this manner. It
gave relief in a warm climate where a lot of walking took place. But it was
usually done by a servant and seen as menial work. Yet here was the Son of God
doing it! |
| 6 | Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord,
are You washing my feet?’ |
| 7 | Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I
am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.’ |
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Peter felt that it was not right for Jesus to do this lowly task for him so he
queried it. But Jesus let him know that the significance of it would dawn upon
him later. |
| 8 | Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’
Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with
Me.’ |
| 9 | Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my
hands and my head!’ |
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Peter was the outspoken one of the group and probably said what the others
were thinking. But they were all to learn an important lesson. Peter was to be
a part of this act and not somehow be an exception. So, realizing this, Peter
eagerly took part. His love for Jesus was strong. |
| 10 | Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash
his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean; but not all of
you.’ |
| 11 | For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, ‘You
are not all clean.’ |
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The main teaching, Jesus was yet to give. But here He mentions how washing is
a symbol of forgiveness and cleansing from sin. He assures Peter and the
others that they are clean and the foot-washing is something extra. However,
there was the exception. Judas could not be regarded as clean as he was not a
true disciple. |
| 12 | So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments,
and sat down again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to
you? |
| 13 | You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. |
| 14 | If I then,
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 should do as I
have done to you.’ |
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Now the lesson is given — one which these men would never forget. Jesus
was not doing something contrary to His nature to make a point, He was doing
what was consistent with who He was. The grace and the love involved in His
action was that which He wanted these men to develop among themselves. They
had earlier shown their very human traits of jealousy and rivalry. Jesus
wanted something new. Yes, a Christian is to be different in many ways from
what he was in his former life. Humility characterized Jesus’ life and
it is meant to characterize ours too. |
| 16 | ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater
than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. |
| 17 | If you
know these things, blessed are you if you do them. |
| | Here is some reinforcement of the lesson. If it is good enough for Jesus to
wash feet, it must be good enough for His followers. Even Jesus does not carry
out some personal desires but at all times is subject to the will of the
Father who sent Him. It is a great thing for us to know who we are and what
our place is. |
| 18 | ‘I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have
chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He who eats bread with Me has
lifted up his heel against Me. |
| 19 | Now I tell you before it comes, that when it
does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. |
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We can see from the way things unfold, that Judas is present hearing these
words. Yet it does not deter him from carrying out what he had planned to do,
that is, sell His Lord for 30 pieces of silver. It had been prophesied in Psalm 41Psalm 41 that Christ would be betrayed by a friend. Now, Jesus is saying that
when he is betrayed and crucified, these disciples will have further proof
that He is indeed the Messiah. |
| 20 | ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send
receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.’ |
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Those whom Jesus sends represent Him. Therefore, to truly receive the
messenger will mean receiving the message. Those who genuinely receive Christ,
receive the Father also, because Jesus represents the Father. |
CONCLUSION
As is typical of John, the Good News keeps coming
to the fore in what he writes. He clearly remembers the actual words of Jesus
and how they convey His heart of love. He makes certain that we know the
overwhelming importance of the atoning death of the Lord on our behalf.
Also, he draws a line constantly, making distinction between those who believe
and trust in Jesus and those who don’t. It pays for us to be very aware
of where we ourselves are standing. Let us never spurn His love. Let us never
betray Him.
If you live in South Africa and after reading
this article you have any questions you want answered then write to Multi
Ministries in South Africa using the response form
and post it to: Multi Ministries P.O. Box 2032 FLORIDA HILLS 1716 In this article all Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible,
New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used with permission.
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