John 13

1. It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. Jesus knew that it was time for Him to leave this world and go back to the Father. He had always loved those who were His own in the world, and He loved them all the way to the en d.

We love our children even when they do something wrong. We are not better than God. He even loved Judas all the way to the end.

2. Jesus and His followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already entered into the heart of Judas Iscariot to turn against Jesus. (Judas was the son of Simon.)

Demonic thoughts start in your mind and if you allow them to stay there they will next go into your heart. 2 Corinthians 10:5

3 – 4

Jesus knew that the Father had given Him power over everything. He also knew that He had come from God and was going back to God. So during the meal Jesus stood up and took off His outer clothing. Taking a towel, He wrapped it around his waist.

You cannot say that you love people if you never do anything for them. Philippians 2:7

5. Then He poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers' feet. He dried them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.

He took the place of the slave or host whose job was to wash feet. The disciples had just been arguing over which of them is the greatest. Luke 22:24 – 27

6 – 7

Jesus came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not understand what I am doing now. But you will understand later.”

We need to bow our heads and say, “Lord, I do not understand what You are doing now but I trust You that I will understand it later.”

8. Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “If I do not wash your feet, then you have no part with Me.”

There is a difference between being a Christian and close fellowship with Jesus. It would be like being part of a family that does not talk with each other.

9. Simon Peter answered, “Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head, too!”

Peter did not understand what foot washing was about. It is not a topic most churches like to talk about. We need to make sure that we understand that Jesus is teaching us to completely humble ourselves before each other. Think of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

10 – 12

Jesus said, “After a person has had a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you men are clean, but not all of you.” Jesus knew who would turn against Him. That is why Jesus said, “Not all of you are clean.” When He had finished washing their feet, He put on his clothes and sat down again. Jesus asked, “Do you understand what I have just done for you?

Jesus washed Judas' feet. As you keep reading you will see that Jesus is giving Judas time to change his mind about what he was going to do. Instead of only thinking of Judas, remember how many times the Lord has given you the same chance.

13 – 14

You call me ‘Teacher' and ‘Lord.' And this is right, because that is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash each other's feet.

Think about what it would take for you to go down in your knees and wash somebody's feet. It would take a lot of humility, you would have to swallow your pride. How can you be humble without being proud about it? You have to work at it and tell yourself that it is better for you to do this thing.

15. I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have done for you.

Many times we say, “He could have washed his own feet!” or “Do it yourself!” Yes they could, but God has brought the situation for a reason. Sometimes God allows these crazy situations to show us that we really do not want to serve others in the first place. Many times you think you are serving the Lord until He asks you to go a second mile as a spiritual lesson between you and Him. Go ahead and do it and you will find a beautiful peace inside afterwards.

16 – 17

I tell you the truth: A servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.

God changes nobodies into people He can use for His work. Here is another chance for Judas. Jesus is saying, “I sent you all on some mission trips to work in My place. Remember how God used you? Do not forget who you are serving.”

If you keep yourself clean, you will be a special vessel for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21

Whoever wants to be first among you must be the servant of everyone else. Mark 10:44

18. “I am not talking about all of you. I know those I have chosen. But what the Scripture said must happen: ‘The man who ate at My table has now turned against Me.'

Jesus quoted this Psalm to show the disciples that the Word warns you of things that are happening in your life. You will not be surprised if you see these things ahead of time in the word. Psalm 19:11, Psalm 41:9, Psalm 55:12 – 14

19 – 20

I am telling you this now before it happens. Then when it happens you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth: Whoever accepts anyone I send also accepts Me. And whoever accepts Me also accepts the One who sent Me.

Jesus is giving Judas another chance. He is saying, “ People know that you are following Me. You are showing who you really belong to when you follow Me.”

21 – 22

After Jesus said this, He was very troubled. He said openly, “I tell you the truth: One of you will turn against Me.” His followers all looked at each other. They did not know whom Jesus was talking about.

Judas may have decided that if Jesus is going to die anyway, then he might as well make some money out of it.

23 – 26

One of the followers was sitting next to Jesus. This was the follower Jesus loved. Simon Peter made signs to him to ask Jesus who it was that He was talking about.

That follower leaned closer to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it that will turn against You?” Jesus answered, “I will dip this bread into the dish. The man I give it to is the man who will turn against Me.” So Jesus took a piece of bread. He dipped it and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Jesus treated Judas as the guest of honor by handing him the bread. He later called him his friend. Jesus never gives up on people, but some give up on themselves. Matthew 26:50

27. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered him. Jesus said to Judas, “The thing that you will do—do it quickly!”

Notice that Jesus keeps the door of mercy open and does not expose Judas. There are times when people reject God's offer of grace and are immediately attacked by Satan. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. James 1:14

28 – 29

None of the men at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. He was the one who kept the money box. So some of the followers thought that Jesus was telling Judas to buy what was needed for the feast. Or they thought that Jesus wanted Judas to give something to the poor.

The Jews had a custom of bringing a peace offering to the temple to get ready for the Passover.

30. Judas accepted the bread Jesus gave him and immediately went out. It was night.

Some people say, “I have already made my mind up and I am not going to change it no matter what.” Judas had decided to invite Satan into his life when he heard that the Pharisees were offering money.

Be careful of thinking that every kind of demonic activity is demon possession. Judas was possessed of the devil, because he invited him. There are people who have danced around a fire and asked the devil to possess them.

In the same way that Jesus will not come into your life unless you invite Him, the devil cannot enter a person unless he has permission. Much of what we call demon possession is oppression. Acts 10:38

Then the devil entered into Judas. Luke 22:3

31. When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man receives His glory. And God receives glory through Him.”

Notice that Jesus did not say, “I just washed his feet and this is how he pays Me back!”
Jesus' death would be His glory. He does not look at His death as the end of the world, but He had been preparing for it all of His life.

32 - 33

If God receives glory through Him, then God will give glory to the Son through Himself. And God will give Him glory quickly.”

Jesus said, “My children, I will only be with you now for a short time. You will look for Me. And what I told the Jews, I tell you now: Where I am going you cannot come.

Jesus is surrendering Himself again to the cross. He knows that Judas is on the way to betray Him, and He wants God to get the glory from His life. We need to make sure that God gets all the glory from our lives and keep none for ourselves.

34 – 35

“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.”

They had heard this before but this time it is, “Love people the same way that I love you.” It is not about our church differences or music or small points of doctrine, but in what way do we love each other. He does not say, “People will know that you are My followers as they agree with your personal convictions.”

36. Simon Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow now. But you will follow later.”

Jesus is telling Peter that Peter will die later. 2 Peter 1:14, John 21:18 – 19

37. Peter asked, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I am ready to die for You!”

Peter was saying, “I love you more than all the others do.” This is a warning for us not to think that we love God more than someone else does –how could we know that?

38. Jesus answered, “Will you really die for Me? I tell you the truth. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know Me.”

Before we look down on Peter, we all need to someday see the evil that we are capable of. We may see that we did something that we thought we would never do and the devil will tell us that we can never find our way back. Peter is going to find out that we cannot live this kind of love in our own strength.

Satan has asked permission to sift each of you like wheat. Luke 22:31