Hebrews 12:2 “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the
champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him,
he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of
honor beside God’s throne.”
We will skip Wednesday of Holy Week because there is no
mention of it in the Gospels. It is
assumed that Jesus spent a quiet day with his disciples rather than out in
public ministry on Wednesday.
Thursday – Passover
John 13:1 “Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that
his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved
his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very
end.”
1 John 3:16 “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up
his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and
sisters.”
Love is defined in 1 John 3:16 as laying down one’s
life. Jesus has loved his disciples
throughout his earthly ministry and his love was going to continue right on to
the end (the cross). The ultimate love was
revealed in the crucifixion (the laying down of Christ’s life).
John 13:1 introduces the rest of the Holy Week story, it
also introduces the living parable of Jesus’ humility in laying down his life
in service all the way to death.
The crucifixion was the ultimate demonstration of laying
down one’s life. The foot washing was the
ultimate demonstration of laying down one’s self in humble service for others.
As Jesus celebrated this Passover with his disciples, he was
preparing to pass over from this world back into the glory of his Father’s
presence. John 13:3 “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over
everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.”
John 13:4-5 “So he got up from the table, took off his robe,
wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began
to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.”
John 13:2 says that the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot. Jesus was preparing to wash the feet of the
one who would in only a short time betray him.
Judas had not given into the temptation yet, and he could have at any
time chosen to ignore that temptation and resist.
We like Judas have a choice to make when we are faced with temptation. We can choose to give in and sin, or we like
Peter in verse 9 (Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well,
Lord, not just my feet!”) ask Jesus to cleans us completely.
Jews of the first century were often concerned with
cleansing rituals, and many were baptized repeatedly. Jesus suggests that His
work in the believer takes care of this problem, eliminating the need for
repetitive cleansing rituals. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D.,
& Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Jn 13:10). Bellingham, WA:
Logos Bible Software.
In washing the
disciples feet Jesus was doing two things:
1. Revealing the
Father: God washes “feet” even of those who betray him. Often “feet” symbolize the whole person in
the Scripture. When God cleanses us from
our sin, it is our entire being that if cleansed. He doesn't leave out any part!
2. Setting the example
of servant leadership: Jesus
demonstrated the humility that is required to be leaders in the Kingdom. Matthew 20:26 “But among you it will be
different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”
After washing the disciple’s feet, Jesus predicts Judas’
betrayal. John 13:21 Now Jesus was
deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will
betray me!”
At this point Judas had one last chance to decide to resist the
temptation. Sadly, he chose to yield to the
temptation and sin against the very one who had come to give him life. He chose slavery to sin rather than the
freedom he could have received from salvation in Christ. John 13:26-27, 30 Jesus responded, “It is the
one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he
gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered
into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” So Judas
left at once, going out into the night.
Following Judas’ departure, Jesus predicts Peter’s
denial. Jesus told the disciples that he
was going away and that where he was going they could not go. Peter, as usual,
jumped in and assured Jesus that he would go with him and even die for him if
necessary. Jesus responded, “Die for me?
I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will
deny three times that you even know me.” (John 13:38)
How frustrated Peter must have felt. He truly believed that he would stand when
things got tough. Look at the grace
Jesus was extending to Peter. He did not
use a condemning tone, but one of resignation.
He knew that shortly after his resurrection Peter would be fully
committed and would eventually give up his life for the sake of Christ.
Jesus took advantage of this, his last night with his
disciples. He began his final teaching session.
Lesson 1: Jesus is the
only way to the Father. John 14:6-7 Jesus told him, “I am the way,
the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If
you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do
know him and have seen him!”
Lesson 2: The Holy
Spirit is coming. John 14:15-17 “If
you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give
you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who
leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking
for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you
now and later will be in you.”
Lesson 3: I AM the
Vine. John 15:5-8 “Yes, I am the
vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce
much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in
me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered
into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you,
you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce
much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”
Lesson 4: The world
will hate us. John 15: 18-19 “If the
world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as
one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world.
I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”
16:1-4 “I have told you these things so that you won’t
abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time
is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for
God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling
you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I
didn't tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.”
Lesson 5: The work of the
Holy Spirit. John 16:8, 13-14 “But now I am going away to the one who sent
me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because
of what I've told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because
if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to
you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s
righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” “When the Spirit of truth comes, he
will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you
what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by
telling you whatever he receives from me.”
Lesson 6: Sadness will
turn to Joy! John 16:19-24 Jesus
realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking
yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a
little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will
weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice.
You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be
like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish
gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have
sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob
you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you
the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request
because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and
you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.”
Jesus final act that evening was to pray for his disciples
(John 17). Pray highlights:
1. Protect
them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.
2. I’m not
asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil
one.
3. Make them
holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
4. I am
praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in
me through their message
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