John 13:1

 

John 13:1 says, Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.  Jesus and His disciples were together for supper before the feast of the Passover.  We are told in verse one that Jesus knew that the hour was at hand when He would pass out of this world unto the Father.  We are also told that having loved His own in this world, He loved them to the end.  The disciples were His closest followers, and He was preparing them for His departure.  We can be sure that God through the Holy Spirit will always be with us to prepare us to better serve Him.  He will love us and be with us in this world until the end.  Verse two adds, And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;   We find that the devil had put it in the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus.  Again, we can attempt to portray Judas as a misunderstood person who wanted to force Jesus to become an earthly king, but he was simply a man who gave into the Devil. We can be sure today that not all who profess to be Christians really are. Some are in it for their own reasons.  Verse three states, Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God. Verse four adds, He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  Verse five concludes, After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Jesus knew that the Heavenly Father had left everything in His hands and that He had come from the Heavenly Father and was going to return to Him.  We as Christians did not come from heaven, but we will one day go there to live forever.  Jesus girded Himself after supper and began to wash the disciples’ feet.  He was teaching them that they should be humble and serve others, and so should we.   Verse six states, Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?  Peter asked Jesus if He would wash his feet.  The implication is that Peter thought it would be beneath Jesus to do so.  We need to understand that Jesus Christ came to earth not to be a physical ruler but a spiritual one.  We should learn to be as humble as He was.   Verse seven adds, Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.  We may sometimes question God because we don't know what is going on in our life, but we should always accept by faith that He does.  Verse eight continues, Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.  Peter told Jesus that He wasn't going to wash his feet.  When we start to tell God what He can or cannot do in our life, we have a problem.  Jesus, in the same verse, told Peter if He didn't wash his feet, then Peter had no part with Him.  We must accept what God is doing in our life without questioning Him if we are to have a part with Him. Verse nine says, Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.  Peter said to not just wash his feet but all of Him.  We may sometimes feel that we deserve more of a blessing than God has given us, but we need to simply accept what God gives us graciously.  Verse ten adds, Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.  Once we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are completely clean, but when sin enters us again, we must let Jesus wash that spot clean.  Verse eleven continues, For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.  Jesus knew who would betray Him, so He said not all were clean.  God will always know our heart.