I invite you to turn tonight to John chapter 13 as this text would be appropriate for coming to the table of our Lord tonight. We'll be looking at John 13, the well-known passage of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. If you're looking at verses 1 through 17 tonight, let's give our attention to the Lord's inspired and holy word to us. Now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered him, what I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand. Peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, if I do not wash you, you have no share with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, the one who is bathed does not need to wash except for his feet, but is completely clean, and you are clean, but not every one of you. For he knew who was to betray him. That was why he said, not all of you are clean. When he had washed their feet and put out on his outer garments and resumed his place. He said to them, do you understand what I have done to you? You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent me. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. May the Lord bless tonight the hearing of his word. Notice the close connection here in the section that follows with the Lord's Supper and the events regarding Judas, but I want you just to think with me for a minute that this is Thursday evening before what we would call the Good Friday, and the sun has set, and it's supper time. They have arrived from this long journey, and they have gone up into the upper room. Very significant place, a very significant moment. And John begins all of this tonight, you'll notice in verse 13, by saying something that is deeply profound, something that is deeply important to understand. I think it's easy to read over it as sort of the first introductory statement to this glorious scene that we know is Jesus washing the disciples' feet. It says in verse 1, now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. That is a glorious statement. This is a wonderful statement. His hour had come to go to the cross and then in resurrection, in glory, to be back to return to his father. But notice that statement that rings out there, having loved his own who were in the world. Have you ever thought and pondered that verse? It does not say everyone in the world. It says very clearly, having loved his own who were in the world. and that having loved his own in the world, he loved them to the end. It's a wonderful statement. Those who had been given to him by his father, and the wonderful extent of the love of God for his people is now put on display from what follows from this glorious statement. So it's capturing the event and what it means and what that love looked like for his people, And that is meant to greatly encourage us how committed that love was, how steadfast that love is, how unwavering that love is, how unbreakable that love is all the way to the cross. And I say that because these are not easy people to love. This is a beautiful section of Scripture when we consider his love to the end in view of the cross and the completion of his work for them, to secure for them entrance into glory. The feet, you'll notice here as we come to this section that follows, the feet here were filthy of the disciples from travels in Jesus. In these rooms that you walked in, especially this upper room in the corner, there would be a pitcher of water, and there would be a water, this water bowl, and then a long linen cloth. And what you have when you came into these rooms were servants who would stand there, and these servants would wash the feet of the visitors and those who had come into the rooms. And you'll notice here that there is no servant in the room. Providence. There is no servant in the room. The disciples are reclining on large mats, as we know as this went around a low table. Typically, they would lean there on their left arm so you can kind of picture the scene. Somebody, somebody should get up and do what needs to be done. They're dirty. They've been traveling a lot. They're smelly. These feet are black. I mean, we went hiking these last two weeks. It's amazing what you pick up just hiking around, right? what happened to the disciples at this moment? Why didn't one of them say, you know, we should probably get up since there's no servant in the room and at least wash Jesus' feet, right? One of us should get up and wash our Savior's feet. But we know from Luke what's going on at this moment in connection with this, even though John doesn't record it, I think it's important because it ties so well to Matthew and what we've been considering. Right at this moment, there was a dispute among them of which of them should be considered the greatest. Does this ever stop, right? Putting this together, they walk up into the upper room and they see the seats and they look at all these seats and they begin to argue who gets up at the front. Who gets the best seat? Who is the greatest among us and so we should be ordered this way, right? It's kind of not like church. A lot of people like to sit in the back and always say, what are the greatest seats? They're right here. Did you know that? His hour had come. Jesus would have been at the head of this table. Who would have been on the lowest rung to be at the bottom of the totem pole to sit at the back? Who would have to grab the towel? Now John tells us unannounced to them in verse 2, really during this supper, that literally the devil, having put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, the devil has entered the room. He has been put into the heart of Simon, you think about this, I mean of Judas, Judas Iscariot. We know he is going to enter him. That's the language of scripture, not the kind of possession we often think about. It was a sane man sitting there, wasn't he? One of Jesus' own disciples is about to betray him under direct demonic influence of the evil one. And what a contrast John wants us to see in the midst of this are all these selfish followers of Jesus who are so full of pride that this one over here is going to sell the Lord for 30 pieces of silver and all they're worried about is their position in the kingdom. So what do you expect at this point? What kind of Savior is this? This is one of the great, I think, beautiful things to study about our Savior, just to look at his character and look at the kind of Savior he is to us. It's remarkable. they all want to exalt themselves at this moment, and John wants us to think deeply about Jesus' love for his own. So committed to his sheep, so committed to the mission, so committed to show that love and demonstrate that love. And so John says in verse 3, under the inspiration of the Spirit, Jesus, knowing, you'll notice this, That the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going back to God. Rose up. He rose from supper. His love drove him. He didn't stop and pick them apart at the moment. He didn't stop and start rebuking them for their failure. What's driving him is love. Knowing all that is about to happen. If you're going to die, what do you think about? If you have to bear the sin of your people, do you know what you would think about? Them. And that's all that's on his mind right now. He rose from the supper. He laid aside his garments. He takes a towel, and he girds himself. Remember, he would have been at the head. So as they're sitting there, maybe the bickering's happening right in front of him. He stands right up in front of them, and he begins to walk to the back. He goes to the back in front of their eyes. And if you understand the visual, it's very symbolic. he transforms himself right in front of them into the slave. You'll know what these slaves in the house would do is that they would gird themselves wearing this cloth and that was a symbol of their slave role in becoming in this way one who stoops down to do the most menial and sacrificial act in some ways. Well, it's Philippians 2, of course. He made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a slave and coming in the likeness of men and being found in the appearance as a man, he humbled himself to the point of death. And see, John interjects and he says, do you know why he humbled himself to the point of death? Because of love for you. It's deeply symbolic in this passage. what John is describing, it's the big story. It's the whole story. It's a parabolic-like moment for them that he left his seat in heaven with his father, the glory that he had, the outward, think about the glory that he had with his father before the world was, that he prayed about and thought about a lot. And becoming one of us and coming to this earth, he then added to himself, to his divinity, a human nature, and then he walked all the way through this earth, all the way to becoming a slave, all the way to the hellfire to lay down life for us. He's washing them. That's the visual here. In the midst of this will come the supper. But you'll notice in verse 5 that after he poured water into a basin, he began to wash the disciples' feet and to wash them with the towel with which he was girded. So you understand that the bigger picture here. Jesus is about to go back. This is the whole imagery of Hebrews captures this so powerfully. He is in glory, and he comes down, and then he goes back up through resurrection to his father. And what is happening? What was the purpose of coming down? What was the purpose of making himself a servant in this way? And it is, as Hebrews says, with his blood, the great intention was to purge us of all of our sins. And then after that, to sit down on the right hand of the majesty on high with completed work. He's the one through whom we have this access into the heavenly sanctuary through this life, this indestructible life of his powerful life and his cleansing that he gives through that life. the Lord of glory. It's just such a remarkable thought. The one through whom everything was made. When you're confused about life and you're confused about everything and you can't understand why God does what he does and why the sin, why the difficulty, why the struggle, why all these questions that we can't answer, all you need to do is come here. Here's the answer. He got down. And he washed us. And he cleansed us. And then he went back up to fit us for heaven. Now in the midst of this, there is great confusion. Peter says, what does he say? Lord, you're washing me. You can hear the astonishment here. Lord, you're washing my feet? That's an act reserved for slaves. That's what slaves do, not the Messiah, not the greatness of our Messiah. And Jesus recognizes they have no idea what this means, that they're caught up in their own greatness, that Jesus explains so clearly in John's gospel that, and even here, what I'm now doing, you do not understand, but you will know after this. The Holy Spirit will take this and will make clear the meaning of this when I am lifted up from the earth. The Comforter will come, and he will bring remembrance, and you will have clarity on what all these things meant. But the capture of Peter is important here. He's not accepting this. He can't move beyond the social implications of what have just happened. That Jesus, the great Messiah, is washing our feet. You can almost hear in his mind exactly what he's thinking. Get up. This is embarrassing. You are not to be the one to do this for us. Get off your knees. You don't have to do that for me. I know you're great. You know? We kind of missed it here. We really should have done this for you. Right? They're all thinking that right now. So he says, you'll never wash my feet. You understand, in light of this morning, the complete here picture of grace again. We just cannot simply accept that we are only receivers in the kingdom. That we, at times, just need to sit and be quiet and receive and put out the foot. That ultimately, all of us are simply beggars. This is such a powerful section. Our whole conception of involvement in the kingdom of God, our whole conception of involvement with Jesus, by default, again, think of this morning, what's built into us, Is all about what we do for him. I think about this with worship. I talk to many people about worship. And the entire conception of worship is this. The entire conception of worship is this. We are coming to give God our best. You think he needs that? Is that what's happening tonight? Did you come to give God your best? or is he giving you his? You see, that's the heart of this. Why are you here? Because he needs something from you? Think of the workers in the vineyard this morning. Did he really need their work? No, no. No, the workers in the vineyard this morning, he just saw them idle and thought, it's good for them to be in my kingdom. He didn't need the work. Why are we here? You see, it's built into us not to understand this. It's built into us. This is the fight our whole life about Christianity and that what our problem is, that we're filthy, and really, you go out this week, you went out last week, you stunk up your paths, right? You went all kinds of directions you shouldn't have gone and you did things you shouldn't have done and to place our feet in the hands of the divine washer? You see, the message of the gospel is God sends his son to the defiled. It's a gospel that says sin has contaminated everything about you and it has rendered you unclean. And think of the whole Old Testament on this point of uncleanness to teach us this great point, that we must set out our feet. We must set out our feet into the hands of Christ to wash us. That's the imagery here, and it's at the complete mercy and discretion of God, and that's why the love of God is driving him. Never, says Peter. Remember, Martha and Mary, it was the same mentality. You know, Mary was so worried about, Martha was so worried about serving and doing, and Mary is sitting at his feet receiving the word, and Mary is bothered. We have to do for Jesus. We have to do for Jesus. We have to do so much for him. Jesus says, no, no, she chose the good part. A lot of people need help. Think about this. Think of how hard it is for us to accept help in this life. Most all of us, including the pastor, we hide what we really need for help. We don't want people to see weakness. We don't want you to know what's deeply going in our lives. If there was a financial need, the last thing we would ever do is go to the deacons. Because it's shameful. It's embarrassing. I don't want anyone to think that I have a need. I don't want you guys to know I'm that weak. You don't want to show anyone the sin that's going on in your life. You want to show yourself as clean, you see. A lot of people here have deep need, all of us. But we never want people to know we're the ones that really need to put out the foot. And here's where we begin to understand more of what Jesus is doing. If I do not wash you, you have no part with me. It's a very crucial statement that Jesus makes. It's a crucial understanding. Part was used here to speak of inheritance. It has the language of inheritance. So remember the parable of the prodigal son. Father, give me the portion. Give me the part of the inheritance that falls to me. Jesus is saying something very clearly. Unless you are washed by me, you don't have an inheritance in my kingdom. There's no way you'll enter my kingdom because of the necessity for you to be washed by me. And part of that great, really the whole of our great need here in the kingdom is for Jesus to come down and to wash us and to cleanse us. Peter not understanding anything like Peter often does blurts out. Well, okay, not only my feet only, but also my hands and my head. and just give me the whole bath, if that's the case. And Jesus discloses very clearly what this washing is. And notice in verse 10, he who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. But you are clean, but not all of you. Judas is there. Judas is there. It's an amazing thought, isn't it, that Jesus would stoop down and wash Judas' feet? Let that set in for a minute. He knew everything. But Judas was not cleansed internally. You see, in Christ, by faith, you're washed. Our Heidelberg teaches this everywhere by his blood and spirit that he washes away all the impurity of our soul. That is, all my sins. Jesus will say in John 15, you are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. It is the very word of the gospel. It is the very power of that word that proclaims him that has the ability to wash us by faith. And Jesus is describing exactly the benefit of his work for his people. That when that word is received by faith in those whom he has come and given his life for, when that word of gospel is believed, it washes away all of the impurity out of our lives and fits us right then and there for entrance into glory. Remember what Hebrews says, for by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. His blood has cleansed us. we are justified by faith. And that's not ever repeated. You'll notice he says that word there, you are already bathed, you're already washed. That's the whole basis that this one sacrifice of Christ, that we don't crucify him over and over again. His blood has purged us. It is never to be repeated. That death on the cross all the way to the end, he loved them, was sufficient to Cleanse them from all their sins and yours. Now here Christ says, you are bathed. Dear Christian, you are bathed. That's the most comforting news. But what we have here tonight also is something beautiful that he says, you are bathed except his feet. Where will Peter's feet soon lead him? Denial. That's what will happen this week. You'll go out and you'll do some sin you did not want to do. And you'll have to come back next week because you were defiled and your feet are all dirty again. This is just the picture of the Christian life. This is just the picture of our walk. You keep on going back to some sin and you keep on in the struggle and you're dull to it. And guilt often overwhelms us and we begin to doubt his promises and you begin to question your faith. And you begin to look over your life and your heart condemns you and you struggle with the sins you don't want to do. And Jesus is saying, I want you to know something tonight, dear children. I've already bathed you. But you need to continue to have your feet washed. That's the daily washing we need. That's the washing that comes to us. really every week in the word and the sacrament ministry because sin has contaminating effects and even though the penalty has been paid it disrupts our lives along the way and Jesus is saying do you want to know how much I love you do you know what you need I'm going away I'm going to the cross and we'll die and we'll be resurrected I'm leaving and I'm preparing a place for you but I'm not leaving you alone but I want you to know what the continual ministry of the great high priest will be to you. I will remain that for you forever. You can come to me every time you sin, and I will wash you. And that's the basis by which we continue to come and ask for forgiveness when we confess our sins, that he is faithful and just to do what? Seventy times seven. Forgive us our sins, and don't miss the second part. And I want to hear you all say it. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Cleanse us. I was in, last week I was in, it was one of those Iowa cities I preached in. Anyways, I can't really forget the names of these cities, you know. Orange City, thank you, Elsie. And when I said something, they responded with the words. So I said, I'm going to work on that in the Escondido URC. And they laughed, you know. He cleanses us over and over when we come to him. And that's what he does for us every week. And that's what he continues to do. And Jesus here drives that home for us. Do you know what I've done for you? Do you know what I've done for you? I mean, not just to sort of let it pass over the head. Do you understand how deep in humiliation I have gone for you, dear children, to wash you and cleanse you and continue to provide for you? If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. You ought to be about helping people to wash their feet and bringing them to the mercies of the Savior. You ought to care about that because that's what I've done for you. if you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. Christ has loved you tonight with this kind of love. Today, he's washed you with his word. The supper declares that tonight. The supper declares that he gave his life for you, and he calls you to believe that, to trust him that he's done this, to receive his body and blood, and to know tonight without any measure of a doubt, once and for all, your sins have been atoned for, and he has fit you for glory. He's coming again, And until then, you're not left alone. He will continue to provide for you, dear children. That's how good he's been to us. That's how wonderful the Savior is. That's how much and how great his love is for his people. That's you. That's you. Praise him and thank him tonight by coming. Now, hear this. And simply in faith, receiving his true body and blood in the sacrament. Amen. Let's pray. Gracious Lord, thank you for this indescribable gift. Thank you for the sacrifice that you've done, you've provided for us. Grant us faith to trust you that we are washed from all of our souls and purities and that you continue to provide for us as our great high priest. That we would trust you in all things. That we would come in faith and simply receive tonight for we're the needy ones, not you. Wash us and thank you for giving us an inheritance in your kingdom through this great work. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.