Daily Devotions
John
Reviewing the deep lessons taught
Text: John 13 : 1 - 20
REVIEWING THE DEEP LESSONS TAUGHT
Jesus wanted to teach His Disciples a deep and important lesson on the subject of humility. He had spoken to them on this subject. He then decided that He would teach them about humility by washing their feet.
After He had washed the feet of His astonished Disciples, He sat down among them and went over the lesson with them. What had they learned from this experience? A number of things may be highlighted.
1. A Lesson on Love
Jesus had given them His love. He had chosen them as His Disciples. He had taught them. He had defended them from His detractors. Now, He showed them just how much love could empower and enable a person. It would enable a person to perform the humblest of tasks (John 13:1)
2. A Lesson on Humility
This was the most obvious of all the lessons that Jesus sought to teach His Disciples. The very act of washing the feet of the Disciples spoke of the deepest humility! He wanted His Disciples to be sure that they would not only remember this lesson, but also to practise it always as they ministered to people.
3. A Lesson on Spiritual Cleansing
The Disciples were also taught a deep and symbolic lesson concerning spiritual cleansing. When a person comes to have faith in Jesus, he is declared “justified” in the sight of the Lord. His sins are all forgiven. He stands as one who is declared righteous before God! However, he must not think that he is perfect and sinless. He would never be. He would sin again and again in his life. He would need to seek cleansing daily. He would need to have his feet washed and cleansed on a daily basis! He would need to come to Jesus for cleansing again and again!
4. A Lesson on Maintaining The Right Perspective
The Disciples had to remember just who they were at all times! They were not greater than their Master. They were His “sent ones”. Yes, the more honourable term was “apostles”; nevertheless, that honour was derived from the Master. The term itself carried nothing unless it was associated with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. They must work hard at maintaining this perspective. They must never seek personal exaltation of themselves or their office.
5. A Lesson on Respect for the Scriptures
Jesus taught His Disciples much concerning regard for the Scriptures. He would cite the Scriptures as He taught them. He would expound deep truths from the Scriptures. He would apply them into the context of every day with amazing ease! Above all, He wanted them to believe and trust the Scriptures.
6. A Lesson on Faith
Jesus always sought to deepen and increase the faith of His Disciples in Him. He had every reason to do this. He was after all the Son of Man and the Son of God as well! He wanted them to learn how to trust Him both implicitly and explicitly. Thus He spoke about how He knew all along that one of His Disciples would betray Him. He did not want them to think that He was not in control at any time!
A PROFOUND THOUGHT ON BEING “SENT”
Jesus had a final lesson to impart to His Disciples. John recorded this lesson in this text he wrote.
“Most assuredly, I say to you,
he who receives whomever I send receives Me;
and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
John 13:20
Yes, Jesus sought to teach His Disciples about humility. However there was another side to humility that must also be recognized!
Many balk at learning lessons of humility. It is a hard lesson to learn on many counts. It goes against the human ego. It is not what the world emphasizes, and as human beings we live in the world. Nevertheless this lesson had to be learned!
Jesus sought to “soften” this hard lesson on humility by reminding the Disciples that their humble position as His servants “sent” to do His work was not without significance! However, the significance would always be found only in the Person of Jesus Himself! If the Disciples could understand and accept this truth, then they would in fact be able to rejoice that they were privileged to be “SENT”.
When the Disciples go out and minister to people, they would not be able to speak of themselves at all. Their message, their power would have to be derived from Jesus! Could they accept that?
People could choose to either reject them or accept them! If they chose the latter and accepted the Disciple as messengers and servants of God, they would in fact be receiving none other than the Lord Jesus Himself.
This was a truly humbling thought indeed. It was deeply profound too. The disciples must lose themselves in their Master! Could they accept that thought?
The people who would receive the Disciples would not only have received Jesus, but they would also have received none other than God the Father who had sent Jesus! Did the Disciples understand what Jesus was saying? He too was SENT! There was nothing wrong with being sent. There was no loss when a person exalts the Person who does the sending!
If a disciple can learn this deep lesson, then he would be able to truly understand the intended lesson that Jesus taught concerning true humility. Judas would never appreciate this lesson, for his heart had never been cleansed in the first place. It would not be easy for the other Disciples to learn this lesson. It would involve being cleansed by the Lord Jesus again and again from the tainting of a sinful world! What profound lessons!