Our Security for Eternity - the Gospel of John Sample

Read: John 13:1–30

SOAP: John 13:20

“I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

John chapter 13 is the transition from Jesus’ public ministry to His private ministry. Jesus shared a meal with His disciples, His twelve closest friends, and followers. Jesus knew what was to come; He knew God had handed all things over to Him, He knew He was from God and was going back to God, and He knew that Judas, one of His own, was going to betray Him.

At the beginning of the meal, Jesus took a towel and a water basin and washed His disciples’ feet. Normally, this responsibility was reserved for the household slave. It was normal practice for a slave, but for the master of a house to humble Himself and wash the feet of his guests was unheard of. Jesus’ actions contradicted all social norms, all ideas of hierarchy. Jesus humbled Himself to the place of the servant to model for His disciples how they were to act in His absence. Jesus showed humility and service and love to His disciples by washing their feet. He was the example, and He instructed them to do as He had done.

As God sent Jesus into the world, Jesus would send His disciples into the world. Here, at their final meal together, Jesus gave them an example and instructions of how to live as His messengers. For just as He is not greater than the Father, the One who sent Him, His disciples were not greater than Jesus. Jesus instructed them to serve one another, to humbly love one another as He loved them.

The disciples accepted Christ, and in turn, accepted the Father. Those who accept the ones Jesus sends also accept Him. Those who accept and believe the testimony of these disciples accept and believe Jesus Himself. Like the hierarchy between slave and master, there is a hierarchy between sender and messenger. Jesus is the sender, sending His disciples into the world to serve in humility, to love one another, and to bring the message of truth to the world: Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to eternal life. The disciples were sent by Jesus, and those who responded to them responded to Jesus. But for the disciples to be witnesses of Jesus, they needed to act like Jesus. This example of service, love, and humility is how followers of Jesus are to represent Him to the world. It does not always mean washing feet, but it means fighting social pressures and personal comfort to make Him known.